ARTISTRY
76. Wit
Can funny be fashionable? It is safe to assume
that Jean-Charles de Castelbajac has a sense
of humor. Making clothing comical is at the
heart of much of his work. Elsa Schiaparelli and
Franco Moschino certainly had an appreciation
for whimsy and the ridiculous. These impish
designers endeavored to amuse and did not take
fashion too seriously. Where is it said that a fash
ion designer cannot produce beautiful work that
is also witty?
Fashion with a sense of humor can also make
a statement. Like any good editorial cartoon,
fashion can become a vehicle for delivering
social or political messages. A coat made out of
teddy bears might be taking a satirical stab at the
ethics of using fur in fashion. The conscientious
fashion designer makes a personal choice about
which absurdities and abuses she might wish to
poke fun at.
Humor doesn't always have to be charged with
meaning. Sometimes the only motivation behind
injecting couture with a little comedy is the
promise of a good laugh.
158 Fashion Design Essentials
Above: A model wears a
Lego-inspired design by
French designer Jean-Charles
de Castelbajac, 2008.
Right: Sebastian Errazuriz's
teddy bear jacket
