British fashion culture roots as a big group in modern fashion culture and is considered as a firm style itself. Anglomania which appeared after 18th century recognized both British fashion culture and fashion style and also played an important role a...
British fashion culture roots as a big group in modern fashion culture and is considered as a firm style itself. Anglomania which appeared after 18th century recognized both British fashion culture and fashion style and also played an important role as a secured modern fashion. This is not a passing phenomenon but showing influence throughout British ideal and culture until 21st century.
This study is meaningful by examining reasons and causes of Anglomania’s appearance in modern fashion culture. First, books related to British history, culture, Anglomania, fashion reference books, internal and external dress and ornament history reference books, design reference books and research papers were used to examine U.K and British fashion culture. Also in modern fashion culture, A study of Anglomania were reserched the study range from the latter half of the 20th century until 2007 S/S collection. It was analyzed works of fashion designers, representatives of Anglomania; Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan, John Galliano, Burberry, Stella McCartney, Stephen Jones, Shaun Leane, Philip Treacy and so on.
Anglomania is a movement by fans in 18th century who supported overall in British society-culture. By this movement, British identity was rose and strong patriotism was appeared. British fascination which stepped up by Voltaire(1694~1778), was continued in politics, economy, society, culture and art and is spread out throughout European countries starting from France. This movement is not just a temporary phase in 18th century but British fashion culture influence affect in the whole world as getting to 21st century.
Anglomania was formed in British cultural art history, - especially in art, it inferred British people’s special character and quality “Englishness”- was appeared in 18th century and is continuing until present. This represented 1) patriotic tradition, 2) naturalism which appeared by naturalistic ideal and garden imitation, 3) British simplicity which spread out by dandies during 19th century, 4) sarcastic expressions based on British concept - free and flexible thinking led to a different social class who accept minorities and continued to deviation which was shown by dandies in anti-society attitudes.
Next is about results from studying expressed Anglomania’s characteristics in modern fashion based on luxurious fashion culture which caused traditional costumes and materials’ appearance and sub-fashion culture which caused young generation’s street style.
First, the tradition of Anglomania is expressed with both British image design and traditional design. This led to express British symbols and royal costumes into fashion items. Furthermore, this led to create new style which combined past and present elements.
Second, Anglomania’s naturalism pursuit expressing natural British simplicity and return to nature. This was expressed by using nature things as fashion objet. To show fashion naturalism, same concept of nature’s image was used in clothing, hats and accessories. Artificial ornaments and trimming were replaced with nature pattern or nature’s objects. Also simple and natural style is expressed by using cotton, hemp or natural color. Flowing curved silhouette resulted feminine image. In modern fashion, Anglomania’s naturalism expressed natural romanticism.
Third, Anglomania minimized ornaments or details and used simple silhouette to express and show British simplicity and dandy style costumes. In women’s clothing, traditional tailoring expressed chic style and using luxurious materials and achromatic color showed simplicity.
Forth, Anglomania created humor by combining different colors, exaggerating in expressing materials and forms. Also this sarcastic expression was appeared in parody and was used in not only clothing but also hair, makeup, and staging.
Fifth, Anglomania’s deviation was caused by British concept which allows flexible and free. To express deviation, Anglomania molted from existing image and beauty. Resistant social attitude and anti-style (like punk), which makes creator flexible, helped expressing deviation. Exaggerating and extreme expressing led to destroy certain forms. Also not only using general fashion materials but mixing different styles expressed the avant-garde fashion.
As it was mentioned, Anglomania’s appearance and characteristics are not just temporary but after 18th century it conveyed British ideal and continued through British fashion culture. Nowadays, Anglomania is focused as a “British fashion style” by showing British identities, characters, Englishness in fashion. In modern fashion, Anglomania is spreading out in the world and will be continued. This analysis can be applied in developing design and educating fashion information for grasping world’s modern fashion trend and recognized by publics.