The fine line between “fashion people” and real people, gets blurred day by day as the masses strive to look like their idols, be it Kate Moss or Kate Gosselin (the cockatoo hair is making a resurgence, I’ve seen it). As a “fashion professional” I love to see people appreciate beautiful clothes, putting on their favorite outfit and strutting down the street. I also am more than happy to lend a helping hand when asked for fashion tips. But it is also my job to get re-inspired and discover new things to satiate the ever demanding public.
So I went back to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to take one last look at the Model as Muse exhibit before it became extinct. Iconic images and the reasons behind them both teach me about marketing, branding, storytelling, the human ideal and so much more.
But alas I was not the only one learning on that fateful afternoon.
Four women entered the exhibit two feet behind me. Upon crossing the threshold of Dovima with Elephants by Avedon they, all as if on Rockett cue, snap a photograph.
“No photos please” warns the guard.
“Ech,” says the short one in the glasses “It’s the last day, why do they care if we take pictures”
I turn around and glare.
Room number two. Images of Suzy Parker, original Madame Gres gowns… and chatter.
The woman (same one, short in glasses… must be their leader) starts to read the plaque.
“It the post WWII Fashion’s New Look” she slowly spoke, out loud. I looked for a docent badge, sight imparement, anything to warrant the verbal narrative. And then there was the discussion.
“Now who thinks that the fashion in the fifties has changed in terms of shape a lot to what we have in the stores now…?” she continued.
And suddenly I got it. They were on a field trip. These women were having their weekly coffee clutch – at the Met!
Room after room, conversation after conversation, they would walk ahead, I would lag behind trying to loose them, trying to concentrate. I would jump ahead, missing an entire installation, just to get some peace, and yet the voices went on
“I mean, I go to one shop, because she knows what I want and doesn’t try to sell me the latest trend” one of the ladies said.
“I hate people having the same thing that I do,” another complained.
“I feel the new designers don’t utilize their skills these days. They don’t actually construct beautiful clothes, just look at these Dior pieces. They have style, they have panache” the leader schooled.
Said pieces were current Dior, done by Galliano, placed in the exhibit to emphasize shape and construction. Galliano, while no spring chicken, in the eyes of these ladies, was definitely new… so against my better judgment, I had to jump in.
“That’s actually Galliano for Dior.” I murmur just loud enough for the entire coffee clutch to hear.
“Nope, dear, that is Dior, it says so right there.”
“Right, but that is not vintage Dior done by Christian Dior, those dresses are Dior by John Galliano Fall Winter 2005-6, it says so right there on the side there…” I return.
“But the dresses, my dear are Dior,” volley…
“Done by John Galliano this century in homage to classic Dior designs” return…
And the leader turns to her clan and states
“See this is why we must teach the youth, they don’t understand what real fashion even is anymore.”
Room after room, comment after comment I learned that the 1970’s were the most “forgiving for a wider hip, but FORGET about a bosom”. The 80’s “were pointless”, it was “such a shame that George Michael ended up gay” “grunge is just another word for dirty” and “Kate Moss looks like a female version of Oliver Twist”
Fashion is what you make of it. It touches everyone’s lives and all have an opinion (positive or negative) about it. And what you learn from “fashion’s biggest critics” is that women remember beautiful clothes. Construction or de-construction, glam or grunge it reminds you that clothing is meant to be special… not just something to throw on your back so you don’t get arrested for indecent exposure.
So kudos to you John Galliano, for pulling the wool over their eyes and displaying “construction” “style” and “panache” of “real” clothing worthy of the label Dior, and to the rest of you designers who one day hope to have your garments hanging between the famous Metropolitan walls remember history is defined in vision, shape and image, and whether you love it or hate it… you will never forget it.
-Lynn Furge
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