I was sitting in my ancient art class last quarter when I noticed something strange. Some of the statues of Grecian women looked oddly like…J.Lo?

No, it was not their well-defined derrieres that caught my attention; rather, it was their style of dress. Had Athena and J.Lo worn the same thing (gasp!) to the Grammy Awards?

Art and fashion have always been linked. When looking for inspiration, designers will frequently cite “Ancient Greek Goddesses” or “Renaissance women” as their muses. As a result, designers produce clothing that bears at least a vague resemblance to the trends of these eras.

The Costume Institute’s annual gala recently honored early 20th century designer Paul Poiret. Poiret was one of the first imitators of Ancient Grecian style; in fact, his loose, draped gowns are known for having freed women from restraining Victorian era corsets. During his life, Poiret enjoyed spending time with such artists as Matisse and Picasso. Now his work will be displayed alongside these artists’ in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

But beware: do not try to learn history through the pages of your fashion magazines. Designers’ interpretations of art often distort the original works or the works’ intention to fit modern fashion demands and lifestyles.

A good example is the classical Greek era, which has had an enormous influence on the fashion industry. Column dresses mimic the design of the fluted columns adorning many ancient Greek architectural sites, while the draped gowns that covered the bodies of Greek goddesses are replicated time and time again on the red carpet. However, some of the trends of ancient Greek fashion were lost in translation over time. Most modern Grecian dresses are a neutral color: whites, tans or browns with the occasional gold or silver accent. This seems reasonable, historically; ancient Greek statues and architectural pieces are mostly made of white concrete or marble. But what most don’t know is that these blah-colored figures were often originally painted in garish colors. The bright paint wore away over time leaving us with the modern assumption of a neutral Grecian dress code.

However, adherence to picky details are not as important to designers as simply evoking the elegance associated with ancient Greece — hence the lack of bright pink or orange Grecian dresses (which is probably a good thing).

Despite historical inaccuracies, designers seek to replicate the mood or feeling of a particular time through their clothing. Marc Jacobs channeled Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer in his 2007 collection for Louis Vuitton. Despite having only about 35 paintings known today, Vermeer has achieved widespread fame. His work has inspired a cult-like following, fueled by the 2003 movie adaptation of “Girl with a Pearl Earring”, a fictional story about his most famous painting. By associating himself with such a revered artist, Jacobs probably seeks to give his clothing a sense of artistry and exclusivity, when in reality, his clothes are only vaguely Vermeer-esque, with modern twists on some features of Dutch clothing and replication of some of the colors favored by Vermeer.

The worlds of art and fashion are inextricably linked to one another. Fashion looks to the past and to art for inspiration to create designs evoking the moods or atmospheres of a particular time or place.

Just try to keep the two separate the next time you get a test question about 17th-century Holland and wonder why “Marc Jacobs” isn’t an answer choice.