REI KAWAKUBO / COMME DES GARCONS : ART OF THE IN-BETWEEN @ MET MUSEUM PART 1

 Rei Kawakubo Comme des Garçons The Art of In-Between at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Installation View 9.7 Order / Chaos

Limitless. Shocking. Defiant. 
Breaking from the fashion fold, Rei Kawakubo declares independence from the confines of conventional clothes-making and Commes des Garçons headlines her un-commercial, un-apologetic aesthetic. For "outsiders," a blurring of the legible mold of "fashion"--as defined by figure-flattery and templated garments that account for head, legs and arms--is unsettling. When confronted with the "aggressively unattractive," critical commentary eclipses the sheer brilliance of the petite Japanese designer with an understated personality and overstated design sense. The first Monday this May, the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens its annual Costume Institute exhibit honoring a living designer for only the second time (since Diana Vreeland's retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent in 1983). Rei Kawakubo / Commes des Garçons : Art of the In Between is not so much a retrospective as an introspective of the creator and her collections, once shrouded in an enigmatic aura. Keep reading for a look inside...

MANUS X MACHINA PART 2

Alexander McQueen [L] and Iris Van Herpen [M, R] dresses on the Ground floor of the #ManusxMachina exhibit at the MET Museum

Not to be dismissed as merely "cute clothes," the sculpturesque specimens of #ManusxMachina commingle concepts of man-produced and mass-produced through the lens of design, process and technology. Using "x" instead of "vs" to marry (and not separate) man and machine, taxonomy is key in creating contextual clarity. At the recent press preview, show curator Andrew Bolton notes, "We're in a really troubling moment. Designers seem to be dispensable and fashion seems to be disposable. I hope that the show reminds people of the geniuses of our world and of what they do." Keep reading to see more from the ground floor of the exhibit...

JACQUELINE DE RIBES : THE ART OF STYLE @THE MET

Costume created for Alexis de Redé's Bal Oriental, 1969; Jacqueline de Ribes: The Art of Style at the MET Museum

With a knack for creative composure and a troupe of talent at arm's length, Jacqueline de Ribes has spent a lifetime perfecting her whimsical wardrobe. A visionary in the design world, the French fashion persona forms the foundation for Jacqueline de Ribes: The Art of Style, the latest fashion exhibit at NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Through 60 ensembles from 1962 to the present and mixed media features, the public is introduced to Jacqueline as a Jane of All Trades. Keep reading for a view into the exhibit from the press preview in mid-November (The new job has made it tough to keep up with posting)...

-WEDNESDAY WINDOWS-

 Bergdorf Goodman celebrates the opening of "China Through the Looking Glass" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in its 5th Ave. Windows

'Daring' describes the dresses of this year's MET Gala. In a firestorm of sartorial ferocity, the fashion forward elite fête China Through the Looking Glass, the new exhibit occupying the Chinese Galleries and Anna Wintour Costume Center. At the heart of the display is a celebration of Asian influence on Western aesthetics. High fashion sits alongside ancient artifacts in a curatorial feat of brilliance. This week's windows at Bergdorf Goodman brings the spirit of China Through the Looking Glass to the public; no long lines here! Have a look inside for more pictures... 

DEATH BECOMES HER : A CENTURY OF MOURNING ATTIRE @ MET MUSEUM

Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire press preview at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Black ball gowns and bereavement become the focal point of Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire, the new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Originally an exploration of the "little black dress," the idea has since evolved to showcase the glorious garb of grief during 19th century Europe and America. Melancholy mannequins in white wigs wear mourning attire, many of which are exhibited for the first time. Quotes relating to the somber subject are projected on the walls around the display. Visit the Anna Wintour Costume Institute at the MET Museum from October 21st to February 1, 2015 to enjoy the ensemblage of death's ritualistic étiquette and fashion. Keep reading for a look inside Monday morning's press preview (Please be patient as the photos load!)...

MEMORIALIZING CHARLES JAMES @ the MET

Charles James Ball Gowns (1948)/Photo by Cecil Beaton courtesy the MET / Condé Nast Archive

Though his name lacks the bravado of Christian Dior or Cristobal Balanciaga, Charles James was the creator of the Taxi dress, the inspiration behind Dior's New Look of 1947, the father of American couture and now the subject of the first exhibit in the MET Museum's newly renovated Anna Wintour Costume Center. At a press breakfast February 10th, Harold Koda, curator of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), introduced the upcoming exhibit, Charles James: Beyond Fashion. Opening May 8th, the exhibit will occupy the first floor special exhibition galleries along with the Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Gallery in the Anna Wintour Costume Center. A press preview will be held on May 5th and the exhibit will run until August 10th. 

STYLE SCHEDULE: 2014 NYC FASHION EXHIBITS

The Fitting No. 1 (2007) by James Gobel at the Leslie + Lohman Museum's Queer Threads: Crafting Identity & Community exhibition

Happy Martin Luther King Day! As we commemorate Dr. King's courage, legendary accomplishments and vision, note the importance of "having a dream" and its relevance in the contributions of dreamers who defy the limits of creativity. Take a minute to reflect on fashion's revolutionary focus on jewelry, punk/queer style and non-traditional media in 2013, and have a peek at the roster of NYC (and vicinity) exhibits upcoming in 2014... 

JEWELS BY JAR -- CRITIQUE AND ACCLAIM

Cameo and Rose Petal Brooch (2011), Photograph by Jozsef Tari, courtesy of JAR, Paris

Millions of glimmering stones cover a treasure trove of elegant accessories at the MET Museum's Jewels by JAR exhibit--and they're catching the attention of more than an admiring audience. Maybe it's the unconventional lighting or the overwhelming selection on display…or maybe it's a general disdain for luxury enjoyed by the unduly opulent. Since opening in November 2013, the MET's premier retrospective of a living jeweler continues to collect mixed reviews. 

Looking Back at 2013

Excerpts from: Shoe Obsession at FIT, Gatsby at Prada, Punk: Chaos to Couture at the MET, Jean Paul Gaultier at the Brooklyn Museum

2013 was a memorable year for exhibiting fashion in NYC. A sizeable shoe exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Shoe Obsession in February was followed by a seemingly endless stream of publicity around The Great Gatsby in April/May and an unprecedented number of displays emphasizing queer fashion throughout the year. Punk had a banner year, with a hefty Chaos to Couture exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum and an impressive Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum. Rounding out the category of "fashion," jewelry was the main feature at the MAD's Fashion Jewelry: The Collection of Barbara Berger exhibit and the MET's Jewels by JAR show. Keep reading to view my top picks for 2013...

PUNK: CHAOS TO COUTURE at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Karl Lagerfeld for House of Chanel, Vogue/March 2011, Photo Credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph by David Sims 

Add together trash bags, ripped jeans, slashed tops, holes and obscenity and you have the perfect formula for a horrific murder mystery... or maybe the The Metropolitan Museum's upcoming exhibit examining Punk's philosophical impact on fashion. An early morning press preview at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) Monday gives a glimpse into May's upcoming exhibit PUNK:Chaos to Couture. Keep reading for a closer look at what's to come...