Use of Art in Fashion

I was reading one of my favorite fashion blogs yesterday and saw an Alexander McQueen collection in which the textiles are inspired by "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymus Bosch.

And here is one piece from the collection:

You can see more photos HERE.

Also yesterday, by coincidence, my Mother sent me a link to a New York Times article about Louis Vuitton using Joan Mitchell's artwork in their advertising campaign even after the Joan Mitchell foundation said, "No."  They have a blanket policy that they don't license her artwork and it can only be used for educational purposes.

The article is worth a read.

There's always been a link between art and fashion.  And willing collaborations between artists (or their foundations) and fashion houses is nothing new.  You can read this brief history that begins with Salvador Dali and Elsa Schiaparelli and the lobster dress:

You can read more about the lobster dress HERE.

We've seen a lot of recent purse collaborations:

Basquiat and Coach:

Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton:

Judy Chicago and Dior:

And there are plenty of examples of fashion using art as a backdrop (hello, Met Gala!) but not all of them are without controversy.  Here is an ad for Tiffany's featuring a Basquiat painting:

Here's the article that covers the controversy.

There was a 1951 issue of Vogue, where a model stood in front of a Pollock painting on view at the Betty Parsons Gallery.

Obviously fashion gets new eyeballs and a sort of "cool" factor when it uses art and artists.  After all, fashion houses are selling a lifestyle ideal as much as actual clothing.  What are your thoughts on  the use of art in fashion -- whether printed on clothing or used as a backdrop?

Thanks for stopping by!