Having two free hours in NY, I rented a Citi Bike and headed to the Met. Every year they have the Costume Institute exhibition following the Met Gala. In the first few weeks, you need to reserve a time slot and go through the exhibition with many, many people around you. BUT, if you just wait a little, you get the exact same exhibition, but with so much more room to enjoy it... and even take photos without a hundred people in the background.
The exhibition explores the concept of "Fashion transforms our bodies" through the lens of age, size, gender and disability, showing that our body is essential to an artistic expression. Each outfit is presented alongside art and ideas.If you have the opportunity, GO! (The exhibition runs through January 10, 2027.) If you don't, you can enjoy a drop of what I saw.
Two things that kept me enchanted:
- The understanding of the deep reasons and inspiration for some of these magnificent fashion creations.
- Some mannequin's faces had been replaced with a flat mirror in the shape of a face. Every now and then, you could catch your own reflection wearing the outfit!!
I was especially excited to see how much space was dedicated to Vivienne Westwood. Not just the clothes, but her philosophy. Fashion as social commentary. Fashion as rebellion. Fashion with something to say. Seeing her work in conversation with paintings, sculptures, and historical objects was incredible and me me proud. Why would it make me proud (you must be asking...). hmmmm... is it too soon to talk about the upcoming LiLi The First's Fall Collection? oops!
Vivienne Westwood, Melcolm McLaren, Venus T-shirt, 1975-1977
Comme Des Garcons, Rei Kawakubo, 2020-21
Japanese philosophical concept of MU: Nothingness, or non-being
Vivienne Westwood (on left) 1994-95
Art: Huguette Caland, Red II, 1974
Thom Brown, 2018
Levi Strauss and Co., 1977
Collabortion with Helen Cookman and Functional Fashions to create denim jeans for wheel chair users with a (full length side zippers.
Oliver Theyskens
The lines of circulations consist of layered paper fragments inscribe with a verse by Emily Dickinson: "The healed heart shows it's shallow scar".
Vetements, 2024-25
Retirement, not as a decline but as an unapologetic state of leisure nd self-definition.
Alexander McQueen
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