As a fan of Indian fashion and an admirer of Arabic fashion designers I have noticed that a lot of western fashion brands are inspired by the East. The distinctive style of fashion from the East fascinates me. When Carrie Bradshaw and friends walked through the desert in ‘Sex and the City 2’ wearing turbans, they became an instant fashion accessory on the runway.
It is no secret the West loves to borrow from the East and is often inspired by Indian or Arabic fashion. The garish colors, exquisite embroidery and daring patterns make these styles a pleasant contrast to western clothing styles.
These days you can find a lot of western designers inspired by the East, a few examples are the Indian inspired collection of Chanel at the Métiers d’Art 2012 show, the Marchesa spring 2013 collection and the Louboutin Bollywood Fever heels.
But there are also many influential designers from the East who often mesmerize us with their work during fashion week; Lebanese designers Zuhair Murad, Reem Acra and Elie Saab, Indian designers like Manish Malhotra and Naeem Khan and many more.
I will not solely focus on fashion but will also share make up looks, jewellery and accessories.
To conclude my first post a short explanation of the name: The Fashion Orientalist. While there are many negative theories surrounding the term ‘orientalism’, I will only focus on the positive. Knowing we are inspired by the East and they are often inspired by the West. It is only a beautiful thing to discover different cultures and the clothing that is worn by those cultures. All in the name of fashion.
O·ri·en·tal·ism: A quality, mannerism, or custom specific to or characteristic of the Orient.