FASHION UNDERGROUND: THE WORLD OF SUSANNE BARTSCH @ FIT MUSEUM

Fashion Underground: The World of Susanne Bartsch at the Museum at FIT; Realistic mannequin looks just like Susanne Bartsch

With guest-list in hand, a lifelike replica of Susanne Bartsch leads a line of mannequins en maquillage, greeting guests at an alley-like entrance to the Museum at FIT's Fashion Underground exhibit. Behind closed doors, black walls, disco balls and 80+ designer-clad divas pay tribute to the 'Queen of NYC Nightlife' in a club-themed showcase of clothing as a means of transformation. From her first party in 1986 to the weekly productions almost 30 years later, Susanna Bartsch continues to unite the creatively energetic in a flamboyant ecosystem of self-expression. Keep reading for a look into the exhibit (and some great ideas for Halloween!)...

LONG TRAN LAUNCHES F/W 2015 IN THE LOWER EAST SIDE

Longtran Vamfim shoe

Monochrome mischief fuels a fashion frenzy this Summer Friday. Saturday and Sunday, August 21st to the 22nd, the Lower East Side hosts Long Tran's launch of his F/W 2015 line. With a sensational start in 2011, the FIT grad continues taking tailoring and upscale fashion to a futuristic frontier through texture and 3D concepts. Keep reading to get a glimpse of the 2-day Hanging Garments of Babylong Exhibition.... 

GLOBAL FASHION CAPITALS @FIT MUSEUM

Global Fashion Capitals at the Museum at FIT opens with Instanbul; (R) Arzu Kaprol

Thoughts of fashion week stir memories of London, Milan, Paris and New York. As new designers emerge, new empires of style continue to globalize the fashion landscape. Within 2014's  premier fashion capital (as named by Global Fashion Monitor), The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology opens a new exhibit, Global Fashion Capitals. Organized by Ariele Ella, assistant curator of textiles, 80 items from emerging talent appear alongside established greats in one of 2015's best curated fashion exhibits yet. Keep reading for more...

FASHION FORWARD -- FIT GRADUATES

Esmeralda Fyhr/Fashion Design BFA, Intimate Apparel Critic Award Winner (Front)

Somewhere between startup and success sits schooling and stamina. This May, graduates of New York's Fashion Institute of Technology showcase their strengths in the lobby of the Museum at FIT. Soon, the class of 2015 will join Brian Atwood, David Chu (founder of Nautica), Nanette Lepore, Reem Acra and others in the ever-growing pool of talented FIT alumni. Keep reading to have a look at some of the favorites from this year's fashion design BFA program...

FAKING IT: ORIGINALS, COPIES AND COUNTERFEITS

Paul Poiret evening dress, 1927 (L); Paul Poiret evening coat (authorized reproduction), 1917 (R)

Fabricated fakes and counterfeit clothing have purposefully plagued fashion over time; the more prominent a product's profile, the more prevalent the phonies. In its current exhibit, Faking It: Originals, Copies and Counterfeits, New York's Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology investigates the complex conundrum of counterfeit culture and explores the means by which designers and brands address 'authenticity.' As the museum has recently begun allowing photography in select galleries, keep reading to see some stills...

A TIMELINE OF QUEER COUTURE @ THE MUSEUM AT FIT

The Museum at FIT presents A Queer History of Fashion: From the Closet to the Catwalk

All of fashion's influential designers are creative, and some of the most recognized are gay. From John Galliano's ball gowns to Alexander McQueen's runway shows and Jil Sander's minimalistic looks, history is a testament to the span of sensational queer style. With LGBT history month right around the bend, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Friday the 13th debut of A Queer History of Fashion: From the Closet to the Catwalk is a timely tribute to the icons of gay aesthetic. 

SUPERHERO STYLE!

"Superhero Closet" installation on 7th Ave and 27th Street at the Fashion Institute of Technology's (FIT) Pomerantz Center

Femme fatale by day and leather clad cat-burgler by night, Selina Kyle shows the world that supervillians (and superheroes) can slink around stylishly too! Until today, I never considered the closet of a superhero, assuming its contents would consist of considerable monotony. But alas, heros and villains alike have alter egos that embody fashion as much as friend or foe. At FIT's Pomerantz Center, the graduate exhibit Superheroes and Villains chronicles the history of America's best-known comic book heroes (and heroines!) and their criminal counterparts. 

The Master & His Muse at F.I.T

Photo of Rosario and Rose Rizzo in the Lobby of FIT's Pomerantz lobby

Isabella Blow is to Alexander McQueen as Audrey Hepburn is to Hubert de Givenchy. From the classic style of Jackie O. to the seductive charm of Marilyn Monroe, just about every designer has a supreme source of inspiration. Until March 10th, the Lobby of FIT's Pomerantz Center pays tribute to Rosario Rizzo and his wife and muse, Rose, by showcasing select delicately hand-stitched high fashion gowns. 

SHOE OBSESSION: A PREVIEW

Charlotte Olympia pumps, image courtesy: FIT

Profoundly evolved from the days when footwear was a means of protection, shoes have now surpassed bags and bangles as the new it accessory. Did you know the average American woman owns 20 pairs of shoes? Whether simple or extravagant, stylish chaussures can be the centerpiece of any outfit with stunning, ornate or elaborate fervor. In parallel with the onset of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, comes the opening of  Shoe Obsession at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Keep reading for the highlights of Thursday morning's press preview.