Clockwise from top right: Temperley London’s silk gown; Prada’s silk organza dress; Macklowe Gallery’s carved walnut table by Emile Gallé; Miu Miu’s leather, suede and python shoe with plastic and python dragonfly appliqué; Macklowe Gallery’s glass and bronze Tiffany lamp by Clara Driscoll; Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen’s crystal and silver wire hat.

Trend: Nouveau Rich

Fashion glances back at fin de siècle style.

April 2008

Curvy, exotic and just a bit erotic—we’re talking Art Nouveau here. This spring the catwalks reflected the works of such artists as Alphonse Mucha and Aubrey Beardsley— from the sinuous linear motifs right down to the nature references. (The ever popular dragonfly, for example, has found its way onto both beautifully bejeweled hats and footwear.) Equal parts decorative, sexy and graphic, this is an era that’s ripe for the fashion plucking. Call it Much ado about something.

Keywords
trend,
art nouveau

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