Editor’s Note: Following the passing of the great painter David Hockney, we took another look at how his art and personal style have influenced fashion.
David Hockney was one of the greatest, and most popular, artists of the 20th century. His subjects—vibrant landscapes, his good-looking friends, sun-dappled pools—have an inherent appeal that is only enhanced by his talent, technique, and composition. Hockney’s eye for color and pattern didn’t just stop at the edge of the canvas, but extended into his wardrobe. You see, the artist, a California-based Brit, was a dandy well into his 80s. Wide-rimmed glasses, mismatched socks, bow ties, stripes, and Savile Row suits were among the most recognizable elements of his superlative sartorial expression. His considerable, and dual, influence on fashion, is undeniable. While some fashion folk, including Yves Saint Laurent, Michael Kors, and Kym Ellery, have borrowed from Hockney’s sun-kissed paintings, others, like Sir Paul Smith and Burberry’s Christopher Bailey, have riffed on the stylish man himself.
Here, we look back at some of the greatest Hockney-inspired moments in fashion.
