Paris’ Delaunay

Art x Outfit Edit #29

Rain, cold, grey… Winter is definitely coming… Yet, there is still space for some transitional pieces, or, better said, for delusional fashion choices worth taking the risk to catch a cold. Fashion, after all, is a game. Sometimes, one looses, sometimes one wins.

As I was going through an exhibit about Paris, I thought about the one thing that really is not discussed enough about this city: the weather. We know London is gloomy, windy, and cold. But so is Paris. It does not get as cold as a lot of cities in the US for examples, but it can be weeks on without the sun settling for more than 2 to 3 hours a week. Meh.

Well, in order to stay sane and actually go through the Winter, let’s disregard. In French we say “faire abstraction”. While the painting La Ville de Paris (1910-1912) I chose to pair with the outfit below is not properly abstract, the cubist deconstruction of Robert Delaunay is a step in this direction. And in life, everything is a process.

The Three Graces are a reference to Antiquity and Classical Art at a time where Paris and cubism were the symbol of modernity. It underlies the tension and the interdependence of past references, of habits, and of new perspectives and ways of framing the usual. The color palette contrasts natural shades like blue, green and rosy pink and the grey and red associated with the modern constructions made of steel.

The outfit below is a balanced combination of classical pieces with a twist, boasting some unexpected angles and cuts. The fluidity of the cut of the blazer is stiffened by the leather fabric, the shoes are characterized by sharp lines and strong angles, and the accessories are a symphony and geometrical oddity.