News Time-Lapse Trends: the world of fashion

“Time-Lapse Trends” is a video blog series which draws attention to some of the many exciting trends in time-lapse production. We feature a new trend in each instalment, to demonstrate the scope of the medium and the various ways in which it is applied, ranging from the popular to the more obscure.

From red carpet events, cat walks and the latest trends, the world of fashion is a hive of activity and creativity. Time-lapse is utilised in many ways to shed light on this (sometimes) weird and wonderful cultural phenomena.

Red carpet fashion is a particular facet of this industry that always garners plenty of attention. The Met Gala is among one of the most popular of these occasions in the fashion calendar.

Referred to affectionately as “fashion’s biggest night out”, the Met Gala is a fundraiser which takes place in New York City every year, raising money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

A themed event, this year “Camp: Notes on Fashion” were the instructions given to guests. While there were many eye-catching ensembles, Lady Gaga turned heads for her choice of multiple outfits, which she slowly revealed as she walked the “pink” carpet.

This unique clothing transformation was captured using time-lapse (above). Through this method, not only can the many different outfits be appreciated, but the video shines a whole new light on the performance art behind her entrance at the Gala.

The acceleration which time-lapse brings to certain events are equally as useful when reflecting on what has gone before. Glam, Inc. have used time-lapse to retrace key Mens Western fashion trends from the past ten decades. The video is an excellent example of how quickly trends come and go in the industry.

Like the Met Gala, there are certain fashion shows which dictate the trends for the coming year.

New York Fashion Week is a semi-annual high profile series of events where international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press and the general public. This time-lapse video from New York Post enables you to experience the best of this in just 80 seconds.

Catwalks and fashion shoots

Photography is another major facet of fashion but, more than this, it is the predominant medium through which fashion expresses itself.

As Rebecca Arnold notes, fashion photography can be an arduous process and relies on various different elements working together: “The overall combination of people, garments and accessories has to harmonise with set and art direction so that a collective vision is realised.”

Plus, as Arnold goes on to discuss, the clothes and accessories on display by fashion editors are there “to sell – visually and literally”. Photography “seemingly blends art and commerce”.

Finally, setting the scene for a fashion shoot or catwalk is also an element of this industry which time-lapse is often applied to.

Catwalks are more than just a runway with lights but are part of the larger performance art which underpins fashion activities. Dezeen’s time-lapse documents the video screen installation that accompanied Calvin Klein’s Spring 2019 show during New York Fashion Week. From here, footage from the Steven Spielberg classic Jaws (1975) was played during the catwalk.

The visuality of fashion is further emphasised with the help of mediums such as video, photography and time-lapse. The creative processes involved in particular activities can be studied, analysed and marvelled at, helping us to understand more about what goes on in the world of fashion.