The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Where Art and Fashion Intersect: Miu Miu Fall/Winter 2007 Campaign

Coco Chanel famously declared that "Fashion is not art," and though this proclamation may be true to some extent (our legal system has been in Coco's camp for some time) we think there's no denying the overwhelming artistic component to fashion.

Miu Miu's Fall/Winter 2007 Campaign featuring French beauty Laetitia Casta is a stunning example of fashion's artistic side. The photography, makeup, styling, and of course clothing come together in a gorgeous study of light and shadow, color, contrast and form.

Laetitia Casta for Miu Miu

The photo's dramatic Deco undertones are what caught our attention most, and remind us of one of our favorite painters, Tamara de Lempicka, who was one of the most famous painters of the Art Deco period. Both works of art, if we may, are highly stylized portraits with skin rendered luminous, limbs geometric, lips a luscious red, masterfully desaturated in places then pumped with precious color in other moments of the canvas or frame—similarly crisp, modern, sensual and seductive.

The Sleeper by Tamara de Lempicka
La Dormeuse (The Sleeper), 1931-1932 by Tamara de Lempicka

On a side note, if Tamara—who was said to have loved ''art and high society in equal measure"—were still alive, she would probably be painting today's stars and supermodels and socialites, just as she did during her own decadent lifetime. We would have liked to see her take a stab at designing clothes...and wouldn't you love to see Miuccia Prada paint?

See more of Miu Miu's Fall/Winter 2007 campaign here. >>
Then if you dare, tell us: Do you think fashion is art?
Comments
it DOES look like a Tamara painting. she's also one of my favorite deco artists.
deco's magic.
:-)
#1 maggie z on 2007-08-17 08:11 (Reply)
Thats amazing budget babe! You are really good to see that connection, and there really IS one! I bet the stylists were like "we can use that and everyone will love it and not even know why they do!" but you do! Smarty Pants! Loves it!
#2 Peaches (Homepage) on 2007-08-17 10:51 (Reply)
yeah, Peaches, that IS smart how BB made that connection.
i didn't notice it until she mentioned it. i knew i liked the pic but didn't know why.
clever girl!
:-)
#2.1 maggie z on 2007-08-17 11:47 (Reply)
those red velvety lips are the best, aren't they?

i have to agree with the other posters here, wonderful analysis bb! and bravo to miu miu for choosing a voluptuous model for this campaign, another nod to lempicka's style for sure.
#3 romi on 2007-08-17 17:06 (Reply)
Adore the red lips (which is something that readers suggested earlier should be one of the things every woman wears at least once!).

Excellent choice of word: voluptuous. You'd never in a million years get a shot (or painting) this good with a waif :-)
#3.1 The Budget Babe on 2007-08-18 09:28 (Reply)
this is why i love this blog - i could guarantee you that none of the people in my office know who tamara de lempicka is. and here we are in a fashion blog and everyone's heard of her. who said fashion is shallow? :-)
#4 pirate jenny on 2007-08-20 07:30 (Reply)
good call on the de lempicka, bb! and i agree with pirate jenny :-)

really beautiful campaign photos -- i love miu miu and splurged on an awesome metallic silver wallet from selfridges in london a few months ago!
#5 cathy (Homepage) on 2007-08-21 14:19 (Reply)
Wow, sounds fabulous!! Sure beats a hedgehog souvenir!
#5.1 The Budget Babe on 2007-08-22 20:44 (Reply)
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