TooMuchPatentLeather: The Rise of Tron

Lately I have been totally and utterly inspired by the distinct worlds created by the stories of both Tron and Planet of the Apes (perhaps I'm addicted to the idea of romanticized danger?). Although at first thought these worlds are clearly separate and obtain totally different aesthetics, they somehow combine beautifully together. Christopher Kane's wonderful work that integrated apes in a modern aesthetic almost gleefully nods toward a futuristic feeling as well. While both ideas or worlds have a futuristic notion in common, their fashion construction and approach are on complete opposite sides of the spectrum. In the world of Tron, there is a seamless (literally) precision and beauty in the complexity and simplicity through the use of color and light (once again literally light). Within the world of the Planet of the Apes, the clothes must look like they could be made and worn easily. More obviously there is less skin showing throughout the outfits of Tron. With strong highlights, neutralized lips and uncannily controlled makeup of Tron, the lovely Linda Harrison contrasts with her beautiful bronzed figure and natural beauty. Perhaps in comparing these two worlds the presence, or more clearly, existence of the sun itself is a crucial comparison. Despite these clear distinctions, I feel inspired by both the textures and freedoms seen in the world of the Apes as well as the clean precision and color blocking of synthetic nature throughout Tron. The fashion love child of these two unique worlds would be, saying the very least, intriguing. I have made my own vest in respect to these two aesthetics (pictures near the end) which I view as a possible product of these two worlds. In common media and cinema, there has been a distinct idea of what futuristic fashion might look like, I think we should challenge what ideas the future might look like. To say the least, it would be interesting to compare how each major or minor designer predicts fashion to be a 100 years from now. Okay enough of the blabbering.