The Meaning & Beauty of Butterfly Fashions

As a  designer, I personally love butterflies . They are a natural wonder, especially the monarch butterfly who can fly the amazing journey of  2500 miles during migration.  Butterflies were fashionable  in the 1950’s and 60’s where  designers used  the  actual wings in jewelry. Today,  Kate Spade and other designers are bringing the butterfly motif back into trend. It is  now possible to find  butterfly imagery on computer covers, fabrics, jewelry, fashion, accessories and home decor.   They’re colorful, beautiful,  delicate yet strong. When I see butterflies, they make me feel  happy,  light and airy creating  an  ethereal effect.  They also have some interesting symbolism. Read On…

Photo courtesy of www.shop.nordstrom.com

The Greeks believed that when butterflies  fluttered from one flower to another , constantly changing from one subject to the next ,  it represented the restlessness of the  mind.  The actual word for butterfly in Greek is “psyche”. This is where the word psychology  is derived from,  meaning the study of the mind. There beauty has always  caught the eye of many designers and why not? Each butterfly wing is unique.

Butterflies  have long been a fashion favorite but what I love is Vivienne Tam’s HP laptop design.  How  appropriate to have a butterfly on a laptop!  Nature, fashion and beauty finally meet up with technology.

Photo courtesy of www.hp.com

Butterflies in  the Western world symbolize:

• freedom
• fun
• happiness
• naturalness
• purity

These symbols seem to resonate through many  product designs.  Extraordinary designers like Alexander McQueen, Rene Caovilla and Anna Seth were definitely inspired by these gorgeous insects.

Photos courtesy of www.arunaseth.com; www.top10shoes.com; www.mzfunkyedge.tumblr.com

Many ancient cultures  have used  actual butterflies and imagery in design but it was the Victorian era that propelled the butterfly to become a fashion item. They often  lacquered the wings of butterflies  and insects creating “real ” jewelry.  Various pieces  that were made included :

• pendants
•  brooches
• necklaces

The lustrous shine from the butterfly wings were  the attraction as well as the unique designs and colors of the wings. As we move forward in time, butterfly motifs continuously  come back into fashion.  Armani started incorporating butterflies into his fashions early on in 2009 when he  designed his Madame Butterfly dress. Judith Lieber, famous designer of luxury handbags  designed this  gorgeous Butterfly Celestrina Clutch, an object of beauty but with a purpose; just like the butterfly itself.  As a designer, Judith’s bag is definitely eye candy!

Photos courtesy of www.stylehive.com for Armani,bagborroworsteal.com for Judith Lieber handbag & skinbeautyclinic

It’s not always the beauty of a butterfly or an insect that inspires us,  but often it’s  behavior.  Mohammad Ali was known for his famous speech which started  with “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”   Other writings such as poems and quotes like  “Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you”  by Nathaniel Hawthorne; they all refer to the fluttering nature of this insect.

As a final note, below are my own photographs I took in  Door County last summer.  I found this butterfly peacefully feeding in my garden.  I always plant lots of flowers that are known for attracting butterflies…and it works!  Who  couldn’t resist to capture the beauty of nature as I have always found it to be  the best resource for color, design and inspiration. I  just may be inspired to create a butterfly handbag or necklace for next year!

Images and info via: magicoflife.org/symbol.html; reviews.ebay.com; jaima & co.  butterfly photo 2010.

Are you influenced by butterflies? If so, what would you design with a butterfly in mind?
Jaima