If you ever try to make the argument that fashion isn't art- you would be dead wrong.
You can't possibly look at these costumes and not realize that you're seeing something extremely special. The time and effort put into each item, makes them a masterpiece.
The exhibition currently at the Met that was heralded by the annual Met Ball, is Manus x Machina : Fashion in the Age of Technology.
I'm not saying, our Member's Opening Reception is comparable to The Met Ball, but I'm not saying it wasn't either.
I wish that New York wasn't an 8+ hour drive and that I had the luxury of blowing $300+ on hotel and admission ticket to The Met, I would give anything to see this exhibition! But I digress.
Andrew Bolton, Curator in Charge, makes the argument as does every major player in the fashion scene that fashion is an art.
While at The Met's exhibition you can see the comparison between man-made vs. machine made, here in our exhibition, the items that fascinate me just so happen to be our older items (besides the yellow dress) that were handmade and the stories that go with them. I think everyone can find something of intrigue, at Edith Head and Company.
For me, one of my favorite costumes is Gloria Paul's costume in, Darling Lili (1970).
The weave of the fabric, the hand appliqué of the hand beaded flowers, it's truly a piece of art and it's hardly even in the scene for more than a mere 30 seconds but seeing it in this exhibition-- it true has a mind of it's own.
Esther Ralston's costume from Fashions for Women (1927) is the oldest costume on display in this exhibition and was restored specifically for this exhibition. The hand sewn pearls, the new sheer bodice that's been attached. Incredible.
My favorite contemporary pieces- just so happen to be on display together--
Rupert Everett's costume from Stardust (2007) is spectacular! He's Prince Secundus, so his costume is made up of a variety of TWOS. Randall Thropp, the curator, said that Sammy Sheldon even had them make a second costume-- spoiler-- for when he died and it's the same costume in grey. Some will think the color scale was turned down, but that's not the case-- there's genuinely two different costumes.
Meryl Streep's costume from Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)-- you can tell that the ribbon, velvet ribbon at that, used to add depth and give the striping effect also has paint around the edges. The flat black buttons work from throat to floor- could you even imagine being the one to dress, Ms. Streep. OH WHAT A DREAM! Even the corset she wore underneath is a piece of art. Designed by Colleen Atwood.
Christina Ricci's costume in Sleepy Hollow (1999) also designed by Colleen Atwood. Atwood was unable to find the kind of stripes she so wanted-- so instead she used magic marker to create the stripes and outlined a few with green highlighter-- if you look closely you can see where the marker started to bleed. After the stripes were to Atwood's liking, the fabric was fashioned into Ricci's dress.
Now tell me that fashion isn't art.
xo,
KJB
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