'More is More, Less is a Bore' with the Camp Design Movement

Design trends come and go…. but don’t worry they come back! In the world of fashion and design there have been many movements and trends that have appeared throughout history. From Art Deco to Modernism to Camp each period of history introduces an opportunity for individuals to identify their aesthetic and creativity. Through the years these movements grow, expand, create footprints in time then typically disappear to reappear.

The camp design movement was one like no other. But if you are thinking of some comfy sweats, a t-shirt and sleeping bag with a forest backdrop I hate to burst your bubble. Camp is a design movement that gained popularity in the 1870s and is known for it’s ‘More is More, Less is a Bore’ montra. This movement brought theatricality, exaggeration, and a naïve middle-class pretentiousness. Starting in fashion, the term camp caught on with artists and writers and could later be expressed in architecture, writing, and paintings!

Some of the famous designers from this era included Elsa Schiaparelli, Bob Mackie, and Rei Kawakubo as they created jaw dropping fashion in Italy, America, and Japan. In more recent years, the camp trend is expressed through Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj as they walk the red carpet or perform in concert!

Intrigued? Consider visiting the Metropolitan

Museum in NYC as they highlight a new Exhibit: “Camp: Notes on Fashion”. This exhibit showcases camp fashion throughout the decades and will give you a glimpse into the evolution of how camp came to be. Now if you are ever feeling like your outfit is too dramatic for the occasion consider yourself a camp influencer and pop off!