Gustav Klimt: The Original Bohemian

Aside from being one of my all-time FAVORITE artists of the 20th century, Gustav Klimt has been sneaking his little bohemian Austrian head back into fashion design of recent years. His portraits of women have a distinctly modern look, mixing influences of Eastern tribal art and bold geometric shapes with romantic florals. As a leader of the Vienna Secession movement, Klimt helped guide the "bohemian spirit" throughout Europe. One cannot help but note similarities between Klimt's brilliant jewel-toned patterns speckled with gold to the couture collections of Oscar de la Renta, Anna Sui, Christian Dior, and most recently Ralph Lauren. For his Fall 2010 collection, Lauren elevated "Boho chic" mixing gold embellished floral gowns with Edwardian tailoring, beaded necklaces, beanies, and fingerless gloves, achieving a look that has been described as "Bohemian gypsy".

Even at this month's Academy Awards, which often establishes the fashion styles for the coming season, more than one starlet paid homage to Klimt. Both Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow looked positively ravishing in gowns that combined structured tailoring with delicate femininity. And gold.

 

For this Drop Cap, I directly referenced the beautiful geometric patterns characteristic of Gustav Klimt's paintings. The "A" was inspired by letterforms of the Vienna Sezessionstil.