Iris van Herpen takes fashion to the next level, sourcing inspiration from artists who explore mathematics, technology, and symmetry in their oeuvres. And for the fall 2020 season, the Dutch designer is reinforcing this quality, creating a singular dress inspired by the work of Maurits Cornelis Escher, the celebrated graphic artist who counts Pulitzer Prize–winning scientists as fans.
Van Herpen specifically focuses on Escher’s study on transformation and how reality can be warped through optics. In a film that stars Game of Thrones actress Carice van Houten, her hypothesis is put on full display: The white gauzy silk organza protrudes like petals from a bodice that features a sinuous black print, with the silhouette changing from different angles. And when hit with a strong light, the pleated material reveals more and more layers. There are also antennae sprouting from the hem, vibrating with every step.
It is as if the dress is an organic life form, functioning on its own and adapting to the environment that it’s in. The design is a testament to van Herpen’s calling card—one that marries nature and technology seamlessly.
This article originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR US.
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