First Impressions

Walking through

Parisian museums such as Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre, and Musée de l’Orangerie, viewers are met with vivid florals, depictions of light and water, and short brush strokes that paint the picture of leisure and social pleasure in the late 19th century. The period of Impressionism is illustrated by iconic figures like Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and countless others that contributed to the world of art through their work. These artists used florals and fashion to capture a peaceful and delicate moment in time that continues to influence the current fashion industry.

Impressionist painters used various techniques to capture light and make the clothing appear unique and exquisite. The concept of “en plein air,” meaning “in open air,” was one way Impressionist artists were able to bring illumination into fine art and create a mood of serenity, using colors like green, blue, violet, pink, and other garden-esque shades (GershNesic, n.d.). Dresses and parasols were delicately brushed into existence in purposeful, airy hues. The wearers of Impressionist fashion held themselves in poses just as relaxing as the light captured by the art. Whether lounging in a garden, gliding on a tree swing, or sitting by the water, women in Impressionist paintings were clad in pastels, airy clothing, ruffles, and bows ideal for a sunny spring day. Claude Monet, best known for his Water Lilies, managed to represent and lead the Impressionist period by establishing these peaceful moods. Monet’s effortless brushwork, which emphasized atmosphere and movement, inspired fashion designers to create clothing with flowy and billowing silhouettes, giving them a sense of movement and lightness. Directly influenced by Claude Monet is the iconic French fashion house, Chanel. The brand has referenced Monet’s paintings in its collections, incorporating elements of his signature style (Talon, 2021). Chanel’s S/S 2021 Haute collection, inspired by Monet’s famous floral paintings, featured dresses with impressionistic prints in soft, dreamy shades of pink. The collection was praised for its imaginative take on Monet’s iconic style and its successful incorporation of his artistic vision into contemporary fashion (Cardin-Goyer, 2021).

Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party similarly influences modern designers. The painting, which was completed in 1881, features a group of people enjoying a meal on a terrace overlooking the Seine River (Luncheon of the Boating Party, n.d.). The flowing silhouettes and carefree attitudes of the figures in the painting inspired designers such as Diane von Fürstenberg, inventing styles like the wrap dress (Encyclopædia Britannica Editors, 2023). These designers have incorporated this bohemian, nonchalant mood into their collections, featuring flowy, off-the-shoulder dresses and widebrimmed hats in a modern take on the classic Impressionist style. The focus on outdoor leisure activities and relaxed lifestyles in Impressionist paintings impacted the way fashion is marketed today, as designers often use outdoor or coastal vacationthemed photoshoots to showcase their collections.

The presentation of apparel is not only reserved for modern collections, but also for historical selections. The art of fashion within Impressionistic paintings was on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2013, featuring the day dresses from noteworthy Impressionist pieces. The princess-style garments hung in glass cases modeled in front of the respective canvases, exuding the feeling of high social status held by women that could lounge around in layers of embroidered cotton, fanning themselves (Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity, n.d.). While these exact shapes and materials are not perfectly mirrored in clothing pieces today, over 100 years later there is still excitement around the airy and whimsical feminity of Impressionist clothing. Vogue took to keeping the Impressionist period alive through fashion by releasing creative works like blog posts that offer lists of modern, trendy dresses for the springtime. The title of one post, “26 Impressionist Floral Dresses That Are as Pretty as a Painting,” not only inspires readers to explore the floral, light, and dainty patterns and shapes, but simultaneously combines the key elements of Impressionist art with modern garments for readers to be further inspired by already iconic art (Rutkowski, 2022). The piecing together of the world of art and the world of fashion design by this industry powerhouse is enough to pique the curiosity of anyone walking around a museum and searching for a deeper meaning in the items they wear. As so many modern designers value Impressionism, the movement will continue to flourish through fashion, sparking innovative ways to bring a breath of fresh air from the paper canvas to the body.