When complaining about feeling stuck or uninspired people will most often respond to you with the refrain to try and “think outside the box”. This catch phrase, attributed to management consultants, means to try not thinking of the obvious and to come up with something that is unconventional and novel. It means transcending the limits of budget or other constraints. As a professor teaching students about a profession that has many rules, constraints and is not especially innovative in practice, I more often have to teach my students how to pragmatically think “inside the box”. In other words how to be innovative within the constraints of what they are already doing and what they already know.
A wonderful example of creativity that comes from limits and staying “inside the box” is the work of the graphic designer Filip Pagowski. You may have noticed that I love to wear a pair of black and white Converse Chuck Taylor’s sporting a small red heart with a set of eyes. If you were really sharp you caught sight of a T-shirt with the same logo in black. This endearing heart with eyes is the iconic logo for Play, one of the many lines that form the brand Comme des Garçons. One day while working on something that was not especially tied to anything, the artist got the idea of a red heart with eyes. He drew the first draft and that was it. Pagowski credits his unique ability to create something from nothing and to work within existing parameters to his growing up in Poland in the 1960’s and 70’s where he learned to “take advantage of limits, even to enjoy them”. The print on the CDG shirt below is also by Pagowski and to see more of his work visit his website.
Although many women are eagerly looking at the very heavy September issues of our favorite fashion magazines right now, these looks are often aspirational. In thinking about putting together new wardrobes for Fall, we often forced to deal with constraints and limits. Whether it is how much money one has available to spend, body size or shape, colors that flatter, the climate we live in or simply the individual “boxes” that form our lives, let’s challenge ourselves to not default to frustration but rather take this as a challenge to innovate and better yet…PLAY.
How are you going to PLAY with your Fall wardrobe?
Playing with wardrobe is such fun, I adore this post, Oh Iconic One! I have incorporated new colours this year, spicing up the basic black. I’m now on the hunt for a spectacularly stylish and sassy hat for fall, one that adds the perfect accent to a tasty, spiced-up wardrobe.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Especially the hat, have not ever found a style of one that suits me.
I enjoyed reading this. I sometimes think that the inside of the box has lots more room to play now that everybody has joined the great rush to go outside of it. We take our same brains wherever we go. I love the look you have on.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Especially the hat, have not ever found a style of one that suits me.
Very well said!
I enjoyed reading this. I sometimes think that the inside of the box has lots more room to play now that everybody has joined the great rush to go outside of it. We take our same brains wherever we go. I love the look you have on.
Very well said!
Having fun with fashion …that’s what it’s all about and you are an inspiration.
Dorrie
Senior Style Bible
Dorrie, you always look like you are having a blast in your pictures. I love your sense of fun.
Having fun with fashion …that’s what it’s all about and you are an inspiration.
Dorrie
Senior Style Bible
Dorrie, you always look like you are having a blast in your pictures. I love your sense of fun.
Somewhere, I have an old Co-Evolution Quarterly that I saved because of an excellent essay by Wendell Berry about the wonderful creativity that is possible when we have limits. In the essay, he talked what Shakespeare achieved in the highly regimented form of sonnets–not in spite of the limits, but because of them. Then he compared this to how much freedom one could find within the formal limits of traditional marriage.
Your post today reminds me that having real world limits on my clothing choices gives me a daily opportunity to be creative. Today, I made up an ensemble where everything was second hand but my shoes. It may not have been my favorite outfit ever, but I was happy that I had made up something new from existing elements in my closet. Limits do encourage creative solutions!
You have captured exactly, and so eloquently, the reason why I love clothing, it allows one to be creative and to always be developing those problem-solving skills. In the same manner as other cognitive exercises, like crosswords, this keeps your brain developing. Love it!
I’m loving the look of a cool hat and a drapey poncho thing with fringe. And I will PLAY by wearing exactly what I feel like wearing!
Good for you, that outfits sounds hip and cool.
I’m loving the look of a cool hat and a drapey poncho thing with fringe. And I will PLAY by wearing exactly what I feel like wearing!
Good for you, that outfits sounds hip and cool.
deep v-necks, oversized cardigans, wide pants, chokers and platform boots
Would I love to see that outfit!
deep v-necks, oversized cardigans, wide pants, chokers and platform boots
Would I love to see that outfit!
How To Innovate Within Constraints
I so need this in my life.
I’m not sure exactly, in this moment, how I’m going to play, but it’s going to happen.
Your blog post has reopened my beginner’s mind on how to look at what I’ve got.
I have some things I haven’t worn because I haven’t looked at them as potential expansions of restraint.
Ah, thank you for this.
I think I will take a page from your style book watch my next post.
I agree with everything you have said but if you would smile it would be better? Why not ? You are gorgeous and a smile would improve the photo
I agree with everything you have said but if you would smile it would be better? Why not ? You are gorgeous and a smile would improve the photo
By adding red!!! Finally fashion is providing me with red items. And I think, green items too. And I love colour. I love black and white too (favourite) but I usually throw in a bright colour. It takes all kinds doesn’t it?
I have to admit I am not very good at styling nor am I creative. But… I get a lot of help, I am improving and I enjoy the journey.
Greetje
I think I will take a page from your style book watch my next post.
Oh I see, this is the floral print I saw in a later blog post. I thought this one was a tee. I remember now. Thanks for referring me back to this one.
You have captured exactly, and so eloquently, the reason why I love clothing, it allows one to be creative and to always be developing those problem-solving skills. In the same manner as other cognitive exercises, like crosswords, this keeps your brain developing. Love it!
Oh I see, this is the floral print I saw in a later blog post. I thought this one was a tee. I remember now. Thanks for referring me back to this one.