Masterpieces to Materials: The Influence of Art in Design.
Art and fashion have long been intertwined, with creative minds drawing inspiration from each other. Designers often translate classic art movements into modern trends, while artists find new ways to reinterpret fashion. As New York Fashion Week (NYFW) Spring-Summer 2025 (SS25) wraps up, the enduring relationship between these two worlds continues to evolve. This season’s runway looks offer fresh insight, seamlessly connecting with art, reflecting how these two forms of expression constantly shape and influence each other.
Art’s Influence on Fashion
From the luxurious tapestries of the past to intricate embroidery on couture gowns, art has continually molded how we design and wear clothing. For instance, 19th and early 20th-century lacework has evolved from its traditional roots to appear on everything from casual t-shirts to high-end gowns today.
Yves Saint Laurent famously incorporated Piet Mondrian’s geometric abstractions into their 1960s cocktail dresses, capturing the simplicity of Mondrian’s lines and colors while redefining the contemporary women’s silhouette.
Avant-garde artists have also challenged fashion conventions by turning clothing into wearable art. By the late 19th century, fashion became more than just self-expression—it evolved into a way to make bold statements, showing that fashion can serve as a platform for social commentary.
NYFW SS25 Looks X Artwork
We loved to see the parallels and themes between this year’s NYFW SS25 collections and the art world. Whether through minimalist designs or intricate textures, the deep connection between fashion design and artistic creativity was undeniable. Let’s explore how some standout looks from NYFW draw on common themes we see in the art world.
Proenza Scholer and Mary Little’s Blackrock:
Proenza Scholer took a refreshing approach with their SS25 collection, incorporating Breton stripes, sleek lines, and origami-like folds. The minimalism at the heart of their design connects closely with Mary Little’s work, specifically Blackrock. The designer and the artist play with clean details and understated forms, using simplicity to balance movement and structure.
Tommy Hilfiger and Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans
Tommy Hilfiger’s SS25 collection brought a unique take on nautical themes, blending maritime influences with his iconic all-American collegiate style. Striking red, white, and blue designs gave the collection a modern twist on classic pieces. This fusion of bold colors and familiar motifs is reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans. Both Warhol and Tommy Hilfiger use recognizable imagery—Warhol with pop art, Tommy Hilfiger with Americana—and present them as fresh yet timeless, highlighting the crossover of pop culture in both fashion and art.
Prabal Gurung and Clementine Maconachie’s Untitled Brass III:
Prabal Gurung’s Holi Hope Collection captured the joy and vibrancy of the Holi Festival – with textures and flowing chiffons that made the models appear almost goddess-like as they moved. The collection’s radiant energy compares to Clementine Maconachie’s Untitled Brass III. The glowing brass color of the artwork exudes the same elegance and high-end feel as Gurung’s designs. Both celebrate a sense of optimism and timeless beauty, giving a nod to divine femininity and luxurious allure.
Alaïa and Henri Matisse’s Blue Nude
Alaïa’s refined and elegant SS25 collection used muted pastels, structured silhouettes, and seamless patterns. These designs conveyed a sense of purity through minimalist forms and intricate details, much like Henri Matisse’s Blue Nude. Alaïa and Matisse embrace pure, simple shapes and colors, creating a balanced aesthetic that strips away distractions to highlight the essence of their work.
Ralph Lauren and Dora Somosi’s By Her Side Series:
Ralph Lauren’s SS25 collection balanced preppy and cowboy-chic styles with American heritage. Like Dora Somosi’s By Her Side series, which features cyanotype photography, Ralph Lauren combines traditional and modern elements. In her process, Somosi merges historical photographic techniques with contemporary concepts, both artist and designer creating work that resonates with a shared sense of resilience and reflection.
Coach and Robert Rauschenberg’s People for the American Way
Coach leaned into its identity as a quintessential New York brand with its SS25 collection, presenting an eclectic mix of signature pieces. The collection reinterpreted American classics, bringing a sense of nostalgia while also infusing modern, playful elements. This approach mirrors the work of Robert Rauschenberg, particularly People for the American Way. Just as Rauschenberg redefined the boundaries between the synthetic and natural world, Coach reimagines familiar American styles, giving them new life through unexpected details.
Area and Matt Shlian’s Unholy 180
Area brought avant-garde designs to the runway with bold textures and complex styles. Looks constructed from beaded hands, feather-like movements, and punk-inspired spikes pushed the boundaries of traditional fashion. This exploration of texture and form is echoed in Matt Shlian’s work, specifically Unholy 180. Like Area’s unconventional materials, Shlian uses innovative technology and techniques to create striking patterns that challenge the viewer’s perception of texture and dimension.
Off-White and Kehinde Wiley’s The Two Sisters
Off-White’s SS25 collection, inspired by Ib Kamara’s journey and Virgil Abloh’s legacy, merged sleek American sportswear with elements of African futurism. This collaboration with Ghanaian artist Nana Danso brought these themes to life, reimagining Off-White’s iconic motifs. The connection between cultural heritage and modern fashion compares to Kehinde Wiley’s The Two Sisters. Like Kamara, Wiley reinvents classic portraiture with a focus on black identity, honoring tradition while creating something forward-thinking and bold.
From the NYFW SS25 collections to traditional and contemporary techniques in the art world, these two fields mirror the world around us – constantly evolving yet always connected.
Picture at top of post from Off-White SS25 show.
