Optical illusions to put on
If not only beauty but also truth is in the eye of the beholder, a very special phenomenon is pushing its way onto the trend radar: Trompe-l'œil is causing confusion and talking points.
An absolute nonsense in certain fields, pretending has been creating spectacular optical illusions in painting and architecture for centuries. Creating the impression of three-dimensionality where there is actually neither space nor depth? Quite clever. Thus people have apparently climbed out of paintings, endless abysses have opened up in harmless pedestrian zones or pompous domes have vaulted on ceilings that are actually quite unspectacular.
Source: Instagram @lucaferrazzi88
Whoever can scoop a mirage has an ace or two up his sleeve. Talking of which. In fashion, too, people love to cheat. Shapewear is used to bring into shape what would otherwise not fit into the "norm". Silhouettes are used to pull or stretch what would otherwise upset the proportions. And what if you go one step further? Pretending to wear jeans where a skirt actually dangles from the body? Flashing breasts where a tankktop actually hugs the curves? It borders on magic, doesn't it? I wonder if that's what Jonathan Anderson, creative director of the Spanish brand Loewe, and Glenn Martens, head of pretty much everything at Diesel and Y/Project, thought? In any case, for their autumn/winter collections they sent designs down the catwalk that, on first viewing, create the illusion of bare skin, certain materials or garments.
So "fooling the eye" fashion is on the rise. Some:r may think of escapism, the escape from reality that seems particularly tempting in times of crisis. But maybe Y/Project & Co. simply want to make the upcoming, visually very dull season a little more exciting for you and me. Besides, that's exactly what conversations are made of. Or have you seen a cape masquerading as a coat so many times? Exactly. Let's talk about trompe l'oeil, baby. Let's talk about you and me. And who knows, maybe this way mankind will finally get used to the dreaded female nipple. Printed on textile or in real life, it is just as harmless as its male counterpart. That's a promise.
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