Less function, more utility (utility fashion) (2024)


Colour trending from Apparel magazine

Utility fashion is about highlighting elements of practical clothing and taking it to the extreme. It’s the epitome of form versus function, as both are maximised and brought to the front of attention.

Historically, utility clothing was first produced to help the British military efforts and aid the economy during the second world war. Cloth, wool, and leather were all in short supply, as were clothes makers, as much of the skilled labour force had left to fight. The government took control of cloth imports and manufacturing, encouraging manufacturers to reduce the range of garments and instead produce items which had more utility value. The shoes made were chunky and solid, usually with wedges or low heels, and all close-toed. All other garments had to make full use of the cloth real estate, jamming in as many pockets, hoods and useful components as possible. Now, utility has become a clean, functional style that plays on the practical aspects, such as belts, hoods, zips and pockets. Natural colour palettes like grey, black, navy, tan, and whites are all repeatedly used in the design style, especially in traditional utility clothing where any unnecessary colour was frowned upon.

Less function, more utility (utility fashion) (1)
From left: Wewill: Resene Bubble N Squeak, Hare: Resene Twisted Sister, Shohei: Resene Aura

At Wewill’s Spring Ready-to-Wear 2019 show at Tokyo Fashion Week, designer Hidetaka f*ckuzono displayed a gender-blurring collection. In a beige look close to Resene Bubble N Squeak, the loose-fitting jacket with oversized box pockets gives off a safari or zookeeper vibe.

Inspired by the shapes of the desert, Gauchère’s collection designed by Marie Christine Statz’s, featured an earthy palette, the collection playfully used proportions and contrasting between technical materials and rough fabrics. Delivering exaggerated shoulders, pockets, and belts; this ensemble is similar to Resene Eighth Bokara Grey, and blurs the lines between traditional 1940s utility clothing and a modern monochrome look.

Focussing on unique and technical materials, Shohei’s collection featured parkas with all sorts of functions. Showcasing menswear and womenswear, this jacket in a hue close to Resene Aura, highlights zip-off components and inverted pockets.

Designer Jenny Fax drew inspiration from themes of childhood and made her RTW Spring 2019 collection resemble a grown-up fairy tale. Elements of humour and youthfulness were matched with less innocent details like undone buttons and underwear worn on the outside. The colossal pockets, shoulders, and lapels on their blue stonewashed denim blazer, like Resene Bali Hai, are so big that they go well and truly beyond the point of being functional.

Less function, more utility (utility fashion) (2)
From left: Jenny Fax: Resene Bali Hai, Gauchère: Resne Eighth Bokara Grey, Christian Dada and Bed J.W. Ford: Resene Hive.

Hare’s Tokyo RTW Spring 2019 collection was sporty and full of bright colours. The design team lit up the runway with vibrant sporty mesh dresses, bomber jackets and satin jumpsuits. One model wore an orange coat in a colour like Resene Twisted Sister, layered over a yellow hoodie. The outfit, and the rest of the collection, was festooned with drawstrings, and other details like fanny packs and oversized cargo pockets. This gave the collection a decidedly noughties-esque look.

At Christian Dada and Bed J.W. Ford’s Stage Joint Show at Tokyo Fashion Week. Filled with dramatic contrasting displays; this tight-fitting yellow short-sleeve raincoat in a hue resembling Resene Hive screamed high visibility on top of the black jumper. The collection played with all opposing spectrums, dark and light, fitted and loose, monochrome and radiantly colourful.

Fashion Colour Inspiration
View fashion colour palettes from Apparel magazine combining the latest fashion from the catwalk with paint colours from Resene.

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Less function, more utility (utility fashion) (2024)

FAQs

Less function, more utility (utility fashion)? ›

Utility fashion is about highlighting elements of practical clothing and taking it to the extreme. It's the epitome of form versus function, as both are maximised and brought to the front of attention.

What is the utility principle in fashion? ›

The utility principle refers to the act of wearing clothes for protection and comfort (Laver, 1969: 273). The seduction principle expands beyond that and refers to the act of wearing clothes to attract a sexual partner (Laver, 1969: 273).

What does less is more mean in dress code? ›

' In fashion, 'less is more' implies that having just the essentials is better than owning too many items, way more than is necessary. It allows you to be more organized and focus on what you are good at. This applies to not only the number of items you have in your wardrobe but also to the way you style yourself.

What are some characteristics of utility clothing? ›

Utility garments were like military uniforms in that they were simple and standardized. They even were labeled with a "CC41" insignia, which stood for "Civilian Clothing 1941" or "Clothing Control 1941." To conserve fabric, utility clothing had small pockets and men's pants had no cuffs.

What does fashion or function mean? ›

There's a saying that you may often hear about fashion, and that's “form over function.” It usually goes hand in hand with sayings like “beauty is pain” or other similar phrases. The original phrase was “form follows function,” meaning the appearance should reflect what the item is used for.

What are the 4 principles of utility? ›

The “principle of utility” is the principle that actions are to be judged by their usefulness in this sense: their tendency to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness. When John Stuart Mill (1969, p.

What are the 4 principles of design in fashion? ›

The principles of design consist of: balance, proportion (also referred to as scale), emphasis, and rhythm. When a garment or ensemble uses the elements and principles of design to create a visual unity, harmony is achieved.

What are the three types of dress codes? ›

There are generally four types of corporate dress codes: Business formal, business professional, business casual, and casual.

What does less is more mean in design? ›

This is a phrase often used by designers to express the view that a minimalist approach to design, results in a more effective solution. Another related phrase is 'design equals addition through subtraction'.

What are the four dress codes? ›

Regardless of whether you are dressing for professional photos, a zoom call, or an actual meeting, it's important to understand the four main classifications of professional workplace attire: business formal, business professional, business casual, and casual.

What are the 4 types of utility and their unique characteristics? ›

There are four types of economic utility, which include form, time, place, and possession. Companies that can understand and recognize areas that are lacking in their marketing schemes can assess consumer purchase decisions and pinpoint the drivers behind those decisions, thus boosting their sales and profits.

What are the two types of utility? ›

Utility in economic terms is the satisfaction that is derived by a person from the consumption of any goods or services. There are two types of utility specified in economics, namely, total utility and marginal utility.

What is utility classification? ›

Utilities classification; definitions. 1. Producing and furnishing or furnishing to consumers natural or artificial gas and water.

What are the 3 F's of fashion? ›

Form, Fit, and Function - Understanding the Three F's of Fashion.

What are the 5 basic functions of fashion? ›

It will also cover the 5 reasons why we wear clothing: protection, adornment, identification, modesty, and status.

What are the different types of utility? ›

There are mainly four kinds of utility: form utility, place utility, time utility, and possession utility.

What is the greatest utility principle? ›

Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure.

What is the principle of utility example? ›

When individuals are deciding what to do for themselves alone, they consider only their own utility. For example, if you are choosing ice cream for yourself, the utilitarian view is that you should choose the flavor that will give you the most pleasure.

What is the 7 elements of fashion design? ›

What Are the Elements of Design? The elements of design are the fundamental aspects of any visual design which include shape, color, space, form, line, value, and texture.

What are the four C's of design? ›

The 4Cs of UX design – Consistency, Continuity, Context and Complementary – are important guides in creating the optimal experience of using a product or service. Creating a great user experience means taking a human-centric approach to software design.

What are the 7 principles of design in fashion? ›

There are seven traditional and universal principles of design, which are significant across the industry: emphasis, balance & alignment, contrast, repetition, proportion, movement, and white space.

What is the 3 color outfit rule? ›

The premise of the 3-color rule is not combine more than three colors in your outfit at any one time. The exceptions are black and white — they don't count, as they aren't technically colors, so they can be intermixed without actually adding a color to your outfit.

What are the 3cs for attire? ›

Confidence, comfort and color!

What is less is more for example? ›

For example, imagine having a lot of dialogue in an action movie. Many people would be disappointed because they expected fight scenes but, instead, found lots of sitting around and talking. In this situation, less dialogue is more effective for an action movie.

What makes a design minimal? ›

Minimalist Design

It's characterised by simplicity, clean lines, and a monochromatic palette with colour used as an accent. It usually combines an open floor plan, lots of light, and functional furniture, and it focuses on the shape, colour and texture of just a handful of essential elements.

What does minimalist design mean ___? ›

Minimalist design is about prioritizing the essential. A minimalist building, object, or interior design is stripped to its core function, realized using limited materials, neutral colors, simple forms, and avoiding excess ornamentation to achieve a pure form of elegance.

What are the different levels of dress code? ›

Classifications are divided into formal wear (full dress), semi-formal wear (half dress), and informal wear (undress). Anything below this level is referred to as casual wear, although sometimes in combinations such as "smart casual" or "business casual" in order to indicate higher expectation than none at all.

What defines after 5 dress code? ›

Although the phrase may seem mysterious when you see it on an invitation, "after five attire" is actually another way to say "semi-formal." To dress appropriately for after five events, you'll simply take your work-day style up a notch in formality.

What is the fashion code? ›

Your personal style code is the style blueprint to your identity, personality, lifestyle and of course the beautiful colours and body shape you were born with. Your Style code consists of your Style City, Colour code, Body Code and learning how to dress it to express and reflect the best version of you.

What are the 6 types of utilities? ›

There are several types of utility: time utility, form utility, information utility, place utility, service utility, and possession utility. Form utility relates to the physical state of a finished product and the value it offers to consumers.

What are the most common types of utility? ›

Utilities are the basic services your home, apartment, or business needs to keep it comfortable and functioning properly. Common utilities include water, sewer, electric, gas, trash, and recycling. Technology subscriptions like cable TV, internet, security, and phone service can also be considered utilities.

What is the full meaning of utility? ›

plural utilities. : the quality or state of being useful : usefulness. : something useful or designed for use.

What is utility vs utility function? ›

Utility describes the benefit or satisfaction received from consuming a good or service. The unit of measurement economists use to gauge satisfaction is called util. Utility function measures consumers' preferences for bundles of goods or services.

What are the 5 types of utility business? ›

The Five Types of Utility in Marketing
  • Utility of Time. This is the “when” component of utility: Is your product available when customers want it? ...
  • Utility of Place. Place utility refers to the ability of consumers to get what they want, where they want it. ...
  • Utility of Possession. ...
  • Utility of Form. ...
  • Utility of Information.
Dec 30, 2020

What are the classes of utility functions? ›

What follows is a brief overview of the four types of utility functions you have/will encounter in Economics 203: Cobb-Douglas; perfect complements, perfect substitutes, and quasi-linear.

What makes a utility? ›

Utilities include large companies that offer multiple services such as electricity and natural gas or specialize in just one type of service, such as water. Some utilities rely on clean and renewable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels to produce electricity.

What is the 3 word rule fashion? ›

What is the three-word method? The three-word method is as simple as it sounds: identifying your personal style with three adjectives. Maybe your style is cool, elevated, and comfortable, or maybe it's colorful, classic, and bold.

What are the 4 functions of clothing? ›

Clothing can insulate against cold or hot conditions, and it can provide a hygienic barrier, keeping infectious and toxic materials away from the body. It can protect feet from injury and discomfort or facilitate navigation in varied environments. Clothing also provides protection from ultraviolet radiation.

What are the 5 Rs of fashion retailing? ›

5 R's of Retailing
  • The right people.
  • The right product.
  • The right quantity.
  • The right price.
  • The right time.
Jan 30, 2023

What are the theories of clothing? ›

The four major theories of clothing are mod-esty, immodesty, and adornment and pro-jection theory.

What are the 4 fashion personalities? ›

There are four main style personalities—expressive, romantic, classic, and relaxed— but most people will display aspects of two or three personalities. The varying fashion personalities explain why people have different tastes in clothing and styling.

What are the 11 principles of design in fashion? ›

The Principles of Fashion Design
  • Rhythm. In fashion design, rhythm refers to the repetition of visual patterns. ...
  • Emphasis (Focal Point or Center of Attraction) This essential element of design in fashion draws attention to a specific part of the body or garment. ...
  • Balance. ...
  • Proportion. ...
  • Unity (Harmony)
Apr 5, 2021

What is an example of the principle of utility? ›

When individuals are deciding what to do for themselves alone, they consider only their own utility. For example, if you are choosing ice cream for yourself, the utilitarian view is that you should choose the flavor that will give you the most pleasure.

What are the 5 principles of fashion? ›

The five basic principles of fashion design include emphasis, balance, proportion, rhythm, and harmony.

What is utility in design? ›

Utility is thought to be merely the usefulness of a commodity that can satisfy the. needs of consumers. Consumer desires on the other hand, has to be satisfied by style designs. Consumer's needs and desires are often collaborative and not detachable. A continuous “Dimension.

What is the utility principle quote? ›

Jeremy Bentham Quotes. The principle of utility… approves or disapproves of every action according to the tendency it appears to have to increase or lessen—i.e. to promote or oppose—the happiness of the person or group whose interest is in question.

Is principle of utility a principle of morality? ›

Key Takeaways. Utilitarianism is a theory of morality that advocates actions that foster happiness and oppose actions that cause unhappiness. Utilitarianism promotes "the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people."

What are the 3 Rs of fashion? ›

The 3 R's For The Fashion Savvy: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

What are the 3 types of utility? ›

Types of Utility. There are mainly four kinds of utility: form utility, place utility, time utility, and possession utility. These utilities affect an individual's decision to purchase a product.

What is the five types of utility? ›

There are several types of utility: time utility, form utility, information utility, place utility, service utility, and possession utility.

What is utility in simple words? ›

Utility refers to the comprehensive benefits obtained from consuming an item or service. This sums up the utility definition. Consumers would typically aim to maximise their utility based on rational choice based on economic models.

What is the first principle of utility? ›

1) The basic principle of Mill's Utilitarianism is the greatest happiness principle (PU): an action is right insofar as it maximizes general utility, which Mill identifies with happiness.

Who created the principle of utility? ›

Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher and political radical. He is primarily known today for his moral philosophy, especially his principle of utilitarianism, which evaluates actions based upon their consequences.

What is the utility theory utilitarianism? ›

The word utility is used to mean general well-being or happiness, and Mill's view is that utility is the consequence of a good action. Utility, within the context of utilitarianism, refers to people performing actions for social utility. With social utility, he means the well-being of many people.

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