Things I Say After Thinking: Interactions: Fashion Design & Anime

Research is vital. It is of the essence for the scholar, the artist, the builder, the cook, the servant, etc, as equal parts to the entire breadth of success for human beings which is as much about learning from the past as is the inspiration for innovation. This is why we have color television, bread, beer, Ipods, PCs, and zippers.

We take what we have experienced, gather information important to our tasks from the past, learn from the information, synthesize the learning into new ideas (I like to call it "organic machina" (mah-kih-na). That term is my scholarly contribution to academia bitches, so no copywriting! :P) and decide what then to do with the findings.

This is research: it's tried and true for every discipline.

And that includes Fashion.

Fashion design as artistic expression is creatively and notably marked upon in extravagant display with the anime Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo.

(Comment: I get a few negative connotations toward viewers of anime as a nerd core "Otaku" activity. Though I find it difficult to find many animated programs that better or equal anime as an engine for great narration, character development, and structure. I draw most of my personal design aesthetics from anime artists, who are very adept at drawing from current trends and putting them to good use. That said, anime displays the best of the trends and can even start some. Follow the artists closely.)

Gankutsuou pays attention to period French style, flair, and design.
The show's director, Mahiro Maeda, based Gankutsuou on Alexandre Dumas's classic French novel, Le Comte de Monte Cristo, a tale of revenge, the limits of human justice, absolute happiness, and alienation.

For myself, the thing I paid most attention to was the clothing!

The costume designs were all created by legendary fashion designer Anna Sui a recent recipient of the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award (Council of Fashion Designers of America). Throughout the eight episodes that I watched, I was visually stunned by the movement of the clothing in tandem with the pattern layering. The remarkable work was polished with exquisite attention to detail with Sui's nod to French style:

From white chantilly's to Redingote's with a twist, there were dresses and suits imprimé, and fine pompom's and brocade's élégante.

The fine men's tailoring in the drawing designs done by Sui could easily be Sold Out if made into actual pieces for sale. As much as I'd like to see the creative designs used in Gankutsuou, I have to admit, they would be clothing few would be adventurous to wear.

Albeit, it's style that matters in the end, and fashion that comes and goes. Coco Chanel said that, I do hope you will take heed.

Take a peak at Sui's, and the artists of Gankutsuous work!

The research was done and a great marvel of cultural, artistic achievement is there for your pleasure.