How Harmony Hangs in Your Closet

This article is part of our Spring/Summer 2020 print issue. See the full, digital version of the issue here.

Photography by Joyce Llopis-Martell featuring model Kali Clougherty.

Beautiful moments happen when elements of art intertwine with personal creativity and style. Unsurprisingly, unity and harmony are emphasized principles in the fashion world as well as in the art world. We challenged these concepts in an attempt to create artwork and style pieces that complement and accentuate one another.

Creating harmonious art means being strategic about color, texture, movement and pattern. Even in an abstract painting, elements that may seem unrelated are responsible for the work’s cohesion.

The initial color palette consisted of blues and oranges because they are complementary. Adding black and white to a piece allows various shades and hues to emerge, while introducing an additional color to the mix oftentimes reveals the artist’s creative vision.

A common misconception about this practice is that mixing patterns makes an outfit or composition too busy. In the featured painting, the dalmation-esque print and various stripes, lines and curves carry the viewer’s eyes around the work.

Photography by Joyce Llopis-Martell featuring models Caroline Saviano and Kali Clougherty. Painting by Caroline Saviano.

So, how does this apply to fashion? Harmony and unity are at the forefront of a successful style and collection. Fashion is an art, so it makes sense that artistic principles follow suit. Whether it is a single outfit or an entire season’s worth of styles, cohesiveness is key.

Photography by Joyce Llopis-Martell featuring model Kali Clougherty. Painting by Caroline Saviano.

Recently, Comme des Garçons released their fall 2020 collection to the world and did not disappoint. Including a feather headpiece and an intricate lace veil, the show was tied together by each model’s Comme des Garçons printed socks.

Photography by Joyce Llopis-Martell featuring models Caroline Saviano. Painting by Caroline Saviano.

These two carefully curated outfits reflect different styles within the painting. The black jumpsuit and burnt orange spotted jacket mirror the hard edges, shapes and maturity of the painting. On the other hand, the delicate lilac bodysuit and puff sleeves emulate the piece’s carefree brush strokes and its airy and whimsical aesthetic.

Whether you are styling an outfit around a bag, scenery, your partner’s outfit or even an art piece, unity will combine the two and create harmony. Challenge yourself to push boundaries when creating art, whether it is on a canvas or in your closet, and keep harmony in mind.