THOUGHT
11. Restraint, Impulse, and Impact
Design is as much about what you add to the mix
as what you elect not to add. The fabrics, the cut,
and the finish must be beyond reproach, be
cause there are no distractions-what you see is
what you get. Neutral colors and the absence of
adornment are often used to define a restrained
aesthetic. Fashion with more of a pop usually
relies on something more. This type of design
has a pulse, something that can be tapped into,
whether it is the vibrant play of color, a stimulat
ing pattern, or the hand of a texture.
Impact can have many of the qualities of im
pulse, but it is not restrained to passion or theat
ricality. Sometimes this type of forceful fashion
can be downright hideous. The role of ugly fash
ion is to challenge. Observers can't help but be
engaged, whether they find themselves intrigued
or offended. The love-hate relationship teeters
on design sensibilities. Will purposefully dowdy,
discordant, or garish creations be interesting?
Or does a runway oddity disturb and unsettle
you? The point is that regardless of whether you
like something you don't understand you cannot
dismiss it, because it has grabbed your attention.
It can be appreciated merely for having been able
to shake things up and penetrate established
standards of beauty far enough to challenge you.
28 Fashion Design Essentials
