Blue and white has become one of the most popular colour combinations in history. This classic colour palette originated in Asian ceramics in the 9th century. These ceramics spread across Europe and influenced 16th century Delftware and the Willow pattern created by British manufacturers in the late 18th century. It was also during the 18th century that printed fabrics such as blue and white Toile de Jouy became popular.
The printing of blue and white fabric in the 18th century lead the way for fashion designers using blue and white as a prominent colour combination for years to come. Inspired by this serene colour combination designers such as Christian Dior and Valentino, as well as high street shops such as Dr Martens, have echoed 9th century Asian blue and white wares over and over again in their designs.
Toile de Jouy shoes by Roger Vivier for Christian Dior, 1956.
Grace Kelly in Blue and White, 1957, inspired Christian Dior’s skirt worn below by Natalia Vodianova, 2013.
Valentino, Autumn 1968.
Victoria Beckham wears a Roberto Cavalli dress with printed designs inspired by Chinese blue and white porcelain, 2005.
Jean Charles de Castelbajac, Spring/ Summer 2007, inspired by Toile de Jouy fabric.
John Galliano for Christian Dior, S/S 2009 Haute Couture collection, Paris, photograph by Francois Guillot.
Lady Gaga wears a blue and white floral printed costume for her 2009 Brit Awards performance.
Guo Pei, 2010-2011, dress inspired by the blue and white Chinese ceramics.
Rodarte, Spring/Summer 2011, dress and shoes from the Ready to wear collection.
Alexander Mc Queen, 2011, Mosaic dresses and shoes designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander Mc Queen.
Valentino, 2013.
Giambattista Valli, Couture Fall collection, 2013, blue floral jacket dress.
Phillip Lim, 2014.
Dolce & Gabbana, 2015.
Dr Martens Willow Pattern Collection, 2015.
Li Xiaofeng, 2006-8, Qing Dynasty fragment dress.
This is the end of the Blue and White: Fashion edition. Please come and see a selection of blue and white ceramics that inspired many of these designers in our Blue and White: British Printed Ceramics display, Gallery 146 on the 6th floor.
Also keep an eye out for more Blue and White art and design on the way soon!
3 thoughts on “Blue and White: Fashion”
Sonia Bartol:
Fascinating article. I am researching about the Willow pattern.
http://timewarpandweft.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/willow-pattern.html
September 28, 2015 at 12:34 pmKara McLeod:
I’d like to respectfully suggest that your opening statement, that the color combination of blue and white first appeared in 9th century ceramics, is a bit misleading and implies that no previous culture combined those colors in textiles or other media.
September 28, 2015 at 7:11 pmPink:
Great article! If you are interested in blue & white porcelain fashion, you can view our designer Yichuan who uses antique Chinese blue & white porcelain pieces to create contemporary jewellery collection: http://www.1p87.com/collections/shop-yichuan-jewellery
Yichuan brand concept and profile could be found here: http://www.1p87.info/designers-and-makers/#/yichuan-jewellery/
November 4, 2015 at 1:54 pm