Alexander McQueen, photo: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
“I always thought of clothes as a disposable art form. I never thought that clothes were as important as they have become,”
- Oscar de la Renta (The New York Times)
And indeed they are an art form. I've been overwhelmed recently with how many fashion exhibitions have hit the art world. "Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915" just finished its run at LACMA and the annual "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" exhibition has been showcased at FIDM. While at Paris Fashion Week I visited the "Women in Orient" exhibition curated by Christian Lacroix and "Rodarte: States of Matter" debuted in L.A. And then...."Balenciaga and Spain" opened at the de Young in San Francisco, "Madame Grès: Couture at Work" in Paris and "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" is next up at the Met.
What up?
It seems my thoughts were right on track of a major trend. I was trawling through The New York Times Style section and lo and behold there was an article on the very subject. Indeed "Museums Are Finding Room for Couturiers". Apparently fashion is a popular topic and not just for fashionistas. While there is some debate whether all fashion exhibitions merit a gallery exhibition, the world seems fascinated by the art form.
According to the NY times article:
"Harold Koda, the curator in charge of the Met Costume Institute, believes that there has been what he called “a generational shift,” adding: “Until about 10 years ago, there was an uneasy relationship between museums and fashion. But today there are more museum directors who are engaging in contemporary fashion.” And pop culture highlights fashion’s allure. “A hit show like ‘Project Runway,’ whose viewers are young females, underscores the passion for fashion among a key demographic that is also crucial for museums,” said Tyler Green, who edits the blog Modern Art Notes.
And there are more in the works. The Bard Graduate Center is scheduled to host a show by master milliner Stephen Jones; the Dallas Museum of Art will host a Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition next November; and the Shelburne Museum in Vermont will soon debut “In Fashion: High Style, 1690-2011.”
Here are images from some of the current and upcoming high style exhibitions. If you're able to attend one of these inspirational displays of art, be sure to stop by.
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: SAVAGE BEAUTY
Alexander McQueen, photos: Solve Sundsbo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More images at guardian.co.uk
MADAME GRÈS: COUTURE AT WORK
Madame Grès evening gown, 1954, photo: Henry Clarke/Galliera
Madame Grès with one of her designs circa 1946, Eugene Rubin/FNAC/Centre national des arts plastiques, Paris, courtesy of NYtimes.com
BALENCIAGA AND SPAIN
Balenciaga, photos: courtesy of Craig McDean/deYoung
RODARTE: STATES OF MATTER:
Rodarte, photos: Autumn de Wilde/MOCA.org
Glad you enjoyed the post Komal. So many amazing fashion exhibitions this year! Did you have a chance to see any of them?
Posted by: Norma Jayne Seward | October 30, 2011 at 10:20 AM
awesome outfits, specially BALENCIAGA AND SPAIN, i like it very much.
http://www.superioressays.net/
Posted by: Komal Tariq Poland29 | October 28, 2011 at 03:49 AM
Glad you like VeryVeryChic and enjoyed the post! I hope you will keep following my blog. Very Best, Jayne
Posted by: Norma Jayne Seward | August 05, 2011 at 07:46 AM
I really impress with these collection. I get many think from there. Nice posts. I like this one very much. They are more content oriented than the usual ones you find these days.
Posted by: hostess milano | August 05, 2011 at 05:03 AM
Thank you, Im glad you like the post! I just went to the Balenciaga exhibition in SF - amazing!! More to come....
Posted by: Norma Jayne Seward | May 09, 2011 at 06:35 AM
these are FANTASTIC. especially the Madame Grès photos.
Posted by: amourette | May 08, 2011 at 09:13 PM