Fantasy Fashion for Summer 2008
Cartoon Capers from Designer Superman Capes to Comic Book T-shirts
Jun 22, 2008
The recent spate of comic book movies and New York's Metropolitan Museum Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy exhibition has inspired the latest cartoon fashion trend.
The current fashion craze reflects the surge in popularity of the superhero — from caped crusaders to wonder women. Hollywood’s recent fascination with comic book cartoons has seen movie releases featuring characters such as Spiderman, Ironman, Superman, Batman and the Hulk. No wonder then that we are seeing some cartoon fun on the runways this year, with designers taking their inspiration from female superheroes like Catwoman, Wonder Woman and Spiderwoman.
Fantasy Inspired Fashion
Fashion meets fantasy in the form of Marc Jacobs cracked leather silver booties, perfect for jumping tall building in a single bound. There's Balenciaga’s multi-framed comic book T-shirt and an amazing wing-embroidered dress by Alexander McQueen, now in the designer sale at Net-A-Porter. On the spring/summer runways Luella Bartley showed off her Batman motive shorts and suits and Miu Miu revealed a Superman-style silk gazar cape, along with Captain America dresses from Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Even Phillip Lim got in on the act with his 3.1 Phillip Lim tunic, with metallic spidery cord.
In the accessories department, cartoon looks include a pillar box clutch from Jimmy Choo, funky spiderweb sunglasses from Theo (made to special order) and comic book print Fatima x Batman sneakers from Ubix.
Comic Book Inspired Tees
High street labels such as Top Shop, Urban Outfitters and online fashion store Asos have a number of cartoon printed tees featuring a selection of superheroes. This ticks two trend boxes, as printed tees worn as tunics or mini dresses are hot, hot, hot this year.
Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy Exhibition
The fascination with fantasy heroes is also due in part to a 4-month exhibition currently being staged at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibition runs until September 1st, 2008 and has in its display some of the world's most famous cartoon costumes; including Lynda Carter’s original Wonderwoman outfit, the Ironman costume worn by Robert Downey Junior, and Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman costume from Batman Returns.
The Met also features comic book-inspired pieces from some of the world’s best known designers including Balenciaga, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and Armani and British designers John Galliano and Alexander McQueen.
The exhibition is inspired by America’s golden age of comic books in the '40’s, and the recent rekindled interest due to a spate of superhero movies. Creative consultant for the exhibition is Nathan Crowley, a production designer of movies, including Batman Begins.
Superheros Gala Dinner
Since it’s opening at the beginning of May the Met Musuem’s latest offering has drawn a great deal of interest both from the media and celebrities. This included a star-studded opening night gala dinner in May, where Hollywood A-listers and famous faces from the fashion world dressed up as superheroes. Even America’s Vogue, Anna Wintour attended, dressed in a Chanel padded silver gown.
For more information on the Superheroes:Fashion and Fantasy exhibition, which runs until the begining of September, visit the Metropolitian Museum's website.
