For many, the idea of escapism is a way to daydream a new temporary reality. They find a form of comfort in being able to go to a new ideal, fairytale place and discover their creativity. Having an imagination and having creativity is something we attribute to our childhoods. Having the ability to experience escapism brings us back to those times in our life when things felt much simpler, and the world seemed to be filled with all sorts of magical possibilities. There is a deep connection between art and this concept of escapism.
Almost every art form can take us to our made-up world and allow us to cope with the everyday struggles life may bring. Fashion is one of those art mediums that can make us feel like we are living a different life for a short time. There is a sort of magic in clothing and accessories that gives us an escape for that little while and can have us enter a new world filled with infinite possibilities.
Mugler Flower Dresses, 1982 Via @Katemosque_archive
Vivienne Westwood Fall/Winter 1995
The role that fashion plays in helping to create inner utopias is seen time and time again in trends and brand identities. I feel as though with everything going on in the world today, we see a clear example of the rise in using fashion and personal style as a way to escape to our own worlds. Cottagecore, fairycore, and other fantasy-based aesthetics gave us our own escape at a time when we needed them the most. We have even seen this with the rise in clothing from different time periods. From the return of the corset and rococo-inspired clothing to warm and fairy-like accessories such as mushroom earrings and charm-filled necklaces, escapist fashion provides us with the nostalgic and optimistic feelings we need. This wearable temporary escape is like a tangible charm we can hold onto when it all becomes a little overwhelming.
Necklace made by @Harlothands
The artists and designers are the ones who are able to create these amazing ideas that provide us with the pathway to enter the world we created ourselves. The extensive attention to detail and imagination that artists place into their work is the reason why people put themselves into the world they created by wearing a piece of clothing. Designers also use escapism to tell their own stories and they may use this art form to handle the realities within their own life. They want to bring their audience the same feeling of escaping to their dreamland. The exuberance and fantasy that designers use when making clothing act as a gift to the people who consume it to enjoy a brief moment of their innermost dreams. When I create my jewelry and art, I love the idea of making a fairytale world for people to live in once they put on one of my pieces. I hope for it to be something that can bring a sense of peace and make life a little more enchanted.
We wear beautiful and interesting clothing to not only feel good, but this fashion also has the ability to promote imagination and curiosity within ourselves. Escapism and fashion are not ways for us to lose our true identity or run away from the real world, but rather a way to explore ourselves and our minds to experiment more with creativity. The world needs this kind of art and sometimes it’s okay to allow art to bring us to another reality just for a little.
Fairy cover photo by @clawddiiaa