Showing posts with label museum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label museum. Show all posts

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Not-So-Intellectual Pursuits...?

Did anyone read the article, Art Snobs Divided Over Whether Fashion Exhibits Belong in Museums (here) on The Cut? Though the article is centered around the upcoming annual Costume Institute Gala at the Met, it was surprisingly relevant for me because last week a good friend of mine suggested we see the Fashion Independent exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum and after the visit, I was truly inspired.

Fashion Independent: The Original Style of Ann Bonfoey Taylor is not only a fantastic collection of haute couture, (Taylor had buckets of Balenciaga, Madame Gres, Charles James, Givenchy and other greats of her time and all time), but it was also a great reminder to be true to your style and tastes, no matter what is "in" at the moment. I wish I could have met Taylor because she seems insanely cool, (an Olympic skier/WWII flight instructor/fashion designer/world traveler is probably not a boring person), and because I would have loved to delve into her closets when she was present to explain her tastes in person.

I only found two little pictures of her collection online to share....
...but check out the short video (here) for more images (and to see Hamish Bowles' mustache dance when he talks). If you live anywhere near Phoenix, you need to see the exhibit. We're talking cherry red Mongolian sheepskin coats, a vintage collection of LV monogrammed luggage, and exquisite couture that is a statement of its time, but still relevant for a modern fashion enthusiast. Oh, and Hermes scarves-- Sigh. If you aren't near Phx, but live in a metropolitan area, keep an eye out because I am sure the collection will be traveling to fashion-friendly areas ;)

Anyway, do you think it is acceptable for fashion to be displayed in museums or should display space in our cultural showcases be reserved for more traditional, scholarly works of art?