Why You Can Go Out Dressed Like That: Modern Fashion Explained
Marnie Fogg
Numerous designers have pioneered cutting-edge garments and collections throughout the evolution of fashion. But all too often a lack of obvious fit or purpose has been mistaken for a lack of design sophistication. In an informed defence of innovative fashion, Why You Can Go Out Dressed Like That champions the improbable, the provocative, the uncomfortable and the seemingly ridiculous. Inspired by diverse sources, theories and concepts, as well as futuristic textiles and techniques, the book explores the groundbreaking work of designers who strive to extend the boundaries of their creativity. There are no fixed elements to the 100 designs featured in this book, which range from the cerebral conceptions of Comme des Garçons, to the augmented anatomies of Thierry Mugler and the exaggerated physicality of Thom Browne’s broad-shouldered men. The garments do not have to fulfil a function, keep you warm, or increase sexual attraction, nor do they have to beguile or disarm. They do need to have impact at the time of creation and to prove influential in the longer term. Many original designs elicit the response: ‘You can’t go out dressed like that!’. Marnie Fogg proves decisively that modern fashion is not as outrageous and unwearable as it may seem.
Marnie Fogg is a fashion expert whose experience of the fashion industry means that she is uniquely placed to access original material. She has wide experience of interviewing contemporary designers and is the best-selling author of, among other books, Fashion Design Directory and Fashion: The Whole Story, both published by Thames & Hudson.