The Art of Fashion

Is fashion a form of art? This short film explains that yes, it can be (although I didn't need to watch it to be convinced.) "Fashion can qualify as art when it is done at the highest level" says artist, Tom Sachs. I personally have always thought of fashion as a form of art and that is probably why I ended up studying it at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Some view fashion as materialistic and a way out of the real world, however I disagree. In fact, in my college-acceptance essay, I wrote how as an art student, fashion has always influenced me; it is a way of expressing yourself to the world - just as artists express themselves through their paintings, drawings, sculpture, etc. The thought process that goes into making a garment, from textile printing up to the silhouette design, is intensive and requires a creative and business-saavy mind in order to be successful. Now, I am not in total defense like Meryl Streep was in The Devil Wears Prada when Anne Hathaway doubts fashion by laughing at the lengthy discussion the fashion editors have of which color sweater to use in the upcoming photo shoot. However, I do think that fashion is part of our culture, just as Sunday night football, Oprah's book list and Rachel Ray's 30 Minute Meals are; all these things may not be the most important part of our lives, but they add interest and fun to each of our days.  Therefore, I agree with Tom Sachs - Fashion is art, but when done right. What do you think?