Arts & Entertainment
Exhibiting Interest
Local Fashionably Forward Museums Recognize Designers and the Evolution of Apparel
Coco Chanel once stated “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” She is speaking of the significant role fashion plays within our lives. Its function in society has always been a reflection of our evolution. The way in which we cloth our bodies can show respect, deliver a message, honor culture, or simply help weather the storm of life may decide to send our way. Whichever it may be, the importance of fashion in our lives is easily recognizable.
Now more than ever it is being regarded for its relevance within the historical and artistic communities through a series of exhibitions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art pioneered the idea of fashion as an art form in 1948 when it founded the Costume Institute. It is now home to over 85,000 ensembles and accessories that are used to create exhibits that define eras and honor those who have had great influence within the fashion community. Since the first opening in 1948, this highly anticipated annual exhibit has been celebrated with The Costume Institute Gala which has evolved into a premiere Manhattan social event celebrating the importance of not only fashion, but style and progressive thought.
Today the doors at the Met close to an exhibit by the name of Savage Beauty, a tribute to Alexander McQueen, a gifted apparel designer who took his own life in February of 2010. His unique vision was both genius as well as extravagant. The exhibit was a tribute to his nineteen year long career in which he conceived iconic designs such as the “bumster”, the trouser that was the driving force behind a lower cut pant, and the three point “oragami” frockcoat, a revolution in the techniques of tailoring. Throughout his career his objective remained consistent; for his art to embody originality. The exhibit is truly a testament to his achievement in doing so.
Find out what's happening in Waterfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The opportunity to view his work may have passed however numerous exhibits of this nature are currently on display, and can be visited by simply taking a day trip. Fashion based schools such as Rhode Island School of Design and The Fashion Institute of Technology feature continuous exhibits devoted to the recognition of fashion as an art form. While Massachusetts boasts the American Textile Museum headlining an exhibit that chronologically depicts the use of fabric throughout time.
Other museums such as The Museum of Fine Arts Boston and Bruce Museum, even though primarily focusing on visual art, are lending galleries to support this upward trend, and in turn appealing to a whole new brand of museum goers. Shedding light on the fashion industry as a creative medium rather than a materialistic and profit driven business is a refreshing outlook on something so often discounted as being part of the artistic community.
Find out what's happening in Waterfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The biggest reward is to know that our body is the canvas, and the inspiring muse for this amazingly unparalled form of art. Be mindful when choosing your apparel and recognize that every garment, even down to your plain white tee, is a combination of history and inventive thought coming to fruition. May you find joy in exploring your personal taste, and remember that being you is always in style.
Local Fashion Related Exhibits
Connecticut-
Bruce Museum
Bijoux: The Origins and Impact of Jewelry
July 16, 2011- March 11, 2012
Massachusetts-
Museum of Fine Arts
Jewels Gems, and Treasures: Ancient to Modern
July 19, 2011- November 25, 2012
Global Patterns: Dress and Textiles in Africa
Beauty as Duty: Textiles and the Home Front in WWII Britain
October 8, 2011- May 28 2012
American Textile History Museum
Textile Revolution: An Exploration through Space and Time
Ongoing
Grace and Glamour: 1930’s Fashions
May 21, 2011- October 16, 2011
Marking Time:Voyage to Vietnam
May 21, 2011- September 25, 2011
New York-
The Museum at FIT
Sporting Life
May 25, 2011- November 5, 2011
Daphne Guinness
September 16, 2011- January 7, 2012
The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Various Fashion Displays
Ongoing
Rhode Island-
Rhode Island School of Design
Japanese Buddhist Priest Robes from the Lucy T. Aldrich Collection
September 1, 2011- December 31, 2011
Vermont-
Shelburne Museum
In Fashion: High Style, 1690-2011
June 18, 2011- October 30, 2011
