The Influence on Fashion is Everywhere...

Sometimes elaborate, sometimes subtle.

Etro, Fall 2009, Ready-To-Wear

J.J. Benjamin-Constant (1845-1902) - Theodora

Portrait of Emilie Floge by Gustav Klimt (1902) - Vienna State Museum


Emilie Floge in a dress inspired by Byzantine mosaics. From the book Klimt and Fashion


Jessica Stam in Christian Dior Couture dress at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, May 7, 2007. Very Byzantine, very Klimt.

Max Weber.

As I write this underwhelmed critical analysis of your 'idea' of Charismatic Authority, I can't help but think how lucky you are that your wife was the woman she was and made you famous. You're also grumpy in all your adult pictures: cheer up.

I Hope My Thesis Doesn't Turn Out Like This.

Alright, I get it. Clearly this woman has been set up for a magnificent beach shot--but can I point out the obvious here? The setting is neither beachy nor magnificent. Instead of gold, silken sands this woman gets jagged brambles and parched moss--and I'm sure one could find more than one cigarette butt embellishing the foliage for her. When the shoot is over and she finally pulls herself up, she will be covered in dirt and have grass imprints all over her arms and legs.

A wonderful idea in theory, but definitely not executed well.

Paul Poiret--obviously not completely Byzantine inspired, but you cannot argue with a thoroughly be-jeweled jumpsuit.

I see where your inspiration came from Lady Churchill...

Joanna Mastroianni Fall 2007 Ready-To-Wear.

Pre-Fall 2010

LANVIN
--I'm thinking more about the drop earrings being reminiscent of the graduated pearl drops in Byzantine Empress regalia



REEM ACRA



NAEEM KHAN

Lanvin: Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear

Theodora: the Byzantine Empress who was a Dancing Girl
-Val Prinsep

How is this Byzantine?

Certainly my choices are not always direct--but how many centuries separate the Byzantine Empire and our time? How can it possibly be a direct representation? It may be the embellishment, it may be the dangling jewelry that resembles the Empress' imperial headwear and diadem, or the geometric patterns in their imperial robes, and so on. Many times there is a mix of several different influences, or perhaps it is the perpetuation of that Byzantine stereotype that everything must be incredibly elaborate, ornate and be-jeweled.
Whatever the case, there's no question I love to think that the images, and symbols from so long ago still contain meaning and interest for people today.

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2008, Ready-To-Wear

Ah! Givenchy!

Fall 2009.

"I want to be a living work of art."

Marchesa Casati

Lady Randolph Churchill as a Byzantine Empress

Three years running...