From Geisha To Gatsby – Carry The Inspiration Throughout The Season

By Brian Maynor
March 7, 2014

This weekend the Columbia Museum of Art is hosting their 2014 Gala entitled From Geisha to Gatsby honoring their current exhibit Japan and the Jazz Age, and it is sure to as much fun as it is timely.

If you will recall The Great Gatsby was a mega-blockbuster last year that inspired clothing lines, jewelry, hairpieces and just about every other accessory for the next few seasons and just last week won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design.  Along with the roaring twenties, the Far East has long been a source of inspiration for fashion designers and this season is no different.  Here a few ways you can incorporate some Asian flare into your wardrobe this season:

1.    Kimono-style.  The kimono is one of the most iconic and recognizable shapes in fashion.  Traditional Japanese garments, the T-shaped, straight-line robes have been adapted over the years and elements can be found in tops, jackets and dresses to match every look and occasion.

2.    Silk and Satin.  Silk and satin have long been a fabric utilized in women’s wear, but this season the material will feature more heavily in menswear aside from accessories.  Jackets, suits, pants and shirts in bold colors and prints walked down the runways for Spring 2014 and will be hitting the shelves soon.  If you don’t know the difference between dupioni and shantung you might want to brush up.

3.    Prints.  Asian fabrics are often inspired by and incorporate nature scenes and/or elements and that tradition continues this season.  Flowers, cherry blossoms, hibiscus and lotus flowers are just a few of the iconography found in the prints and florals bursting into spring.

4.    Avant-garde.  In a completely polar approach to the colorful floral prints, silks and satins there is an alternative way to express your Asian inspiration and that is with the very bold, stark, black and white architectural pieces that push all boundaries.  As cutting-edge as possible, these pieces may look simple and unflattering at first glance, but the quality of material and attention to detail cannot be denied.   If you want to stretch your creativity and comfort zone try some of these non-traditional pieces this season.

Whether you add an obi belt to a basic t-shirt and pants, opt for a kimono-styled suit or embrace the new minimalist trend there are plenty of ways to accommodate the influences of the Far East in your wardrobe and lifestyle.  Also, if you want more information or tickets to one of Columbia’s premier events, everything you need can be found at www.columbiamuseum.org.

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

I am always curious to hear about your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and help make your work wardrobe pull double duty.  Email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].  Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.