From the biggest artists to the smallest designers, a certain story about a girl and the magical world she discovers has always had the hearts of artists and designers alike. The mystical allure of Alice in Wonderland has inspired creativity since its release by Lewis Carroll in 1865. Maybe it's the weird and wonderful characters, or the unfamiliar, vibrant surroundings that draws creatives in and inspires them to let their imagination reign free.
One notable artist to plunge Alice in Wonderland into the role of muse was Salvador Dali. In 1969, Dali was commissioned by Random House to illustrate a special edition of the book. Even before Dali's influence, Alice in Wonderland could already be seen as a precursor to the surrealist movement that would just be finding its footing a century later. These illustrations strengthened the ties between surrealist artists and our precocious Alice.
Music has also had its fair share of inspiration in the novel, with a spike in songs referencing this tale beginning in the 1960s. We've put together a playlist of some of our favourites below, ranging from 1967 to 2014.
From top to bottom, left to right: White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane (1967), Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds by The Beatles (1967), Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters by Elton John (1972), Wake Up (You Sleepy Head) by Clare and the Reasons (2009), Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up) by Florence + the Machine (2009) and Wonderland by Taylor Swift (2014).
After the numerous connections between Alice in Wonderland and the surrealist art movement, it's no wonder that the fashion world has been borrowing visuals from the story for many collections. Thanks to designers such as Elsa Schiaparelli, surrealism has been intertwined with fashion since the early 20th century. Her work creating larger-than-life designs pulled from her social circle which was heavily intwined with the likes of Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau.
Years later, the surrealist impression continues with collections inspired by Alice in Wonderland such as Viktor & Rolf's Fall 2016 couture collection. This collection featured weird and wacky designs that felt as if they'd brought the story and its world right to us.
A few years later, Marni brought out the surrealist routes of the story with their Fall/Winter 2020-2021 collection. The collection featured tailored and knit looks, all with a sense of whimsy, geometry and antiquity.
Through the many creative endeavours that have been inspired by Alice in Wonderland, a sense of true enjoyment from the bizarre and unusual remains consistent. Perhaps this is where the nature of this everlasting muse lies, in the encouragement to look at the world in new ways. Let your imagination run wild and see where the rabbit hole takes you. We'll be waiting in Wonderland with your Alice in Wonderland photoshoot experience.
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