POP CULTURE PARALLELS: CHAPLIN AND KEATON IN FASHION

For Spring 2011, fashion designer John Galliano turned to silent film for inspiration.  The collection inspired by Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton experimented with new proporitions.  The runway featured a giant clock, which could be a reference to Chaplin's film MODERN TIMES in which he is trapped in a set of gears or possibly to Harold Lloyd's SAFETY LAST.  The show's references could also be a remark on the current economic enviornment.  Ironic that this tramp ensemble costs so much money.

Fashion and film have always been very connected but more than ever fashion houses are turning to film and filmmakers to reach a larger audience.  For example, three famous directors have produced perfume commercials for fashion houses:  David Lynch for Gucci, Sofia Coppola for Dior, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet for Chanel.