The Chippendale Style in Modern Fashion

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the formative feature of the Chippendale style of the 18th century and to understand the aesthetic feature of the Chippendale style applied in the modern fashion. This is significant in that new possibilities are proposed in fashion design in more holistic and multifaceted views by comparing and delving into the fashion vis-a-vis other fields in a bigger scope of the formative art. The Chippendale style furniture is a combination of various styles of different eras and regions such as Gothic and Chinese style based on the Rococo style. Today, It is regarded in fashion as a composite design of heterogeneous elements or very curvy decorative design. The Chippendale style of this kind is classified into the Rococo style, Gothic style and Chinese style. Depending on each classification, formative features including curves, asymmetry, decorativeness, geometrical feature, exoticism, compositeness and graceness were derived. In comparative studies, fashion and furniture of the Chippendale style have the similarity in formative features but there were some differences in the expressive method. This study analyzed the formative features of the Chippendale style represented in furniture and the modern fashion based on the Rococo-revival design in the modern fashion starting from 2000.