Immerse Yourself in Hollywood Glamour at the MFA in Boston

Multi-use Necklace of Actress June Knight, late 1930s. Neil Lane Collection. Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. by Angela Magnotti Andrews Opening at the Museum of Fine Arts-Boston (MFA) September 9, 2014, Hollywood Glamour: Fashion and Jewelry from the Silver Screen promises to dazzle with exquisite gowns and jewels worn by some of Hollywood's most prominent Golden Age actresses. The iconic retro styles of Mae West, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, and Marlene Dietrich continue to influence fashion today. The MFA aims, with this exhibition, to demonstrate the uniquely American take on style which was, as co-curator Michelle Finamore states,  "an ideal expression of Hollywood's distinctive brand of escapist fantasy." When you walk through the gallery doors, you'll be taking a step back in time. You will see sumptuous gowns made of metallic lamé  woven with real gold and silver, silk satin, and chiffon, made by leading designers Travis Banton, Gilbert Adrian, and Edith Head. You'll see a beautiful pair of silver leather platform shoes worn by Mae West, and several stunning photos of the stars taken by Edward Steichen. And where would The Golden Age of Hollywood be without the stunning retro jewelry designs of Paul Flato, Trabert & Hoeffer-Mauboussin, and Suzanne Belperron? Hollywood Glamour features several works by these and other top designers of that era. The necklace featured here is a gorgeous platinum, engraved sapphire, and diamond multi-use necklaced designed by Trabert & Hoeffer, Inc.-Mauboussin in the late 1930s. This style of necklace was extremely popular onscreen in the 1930s and 1940s, particularly because of its versatility. In its full form, it was worn as a necklace as seen here, but it could also be separated to form a suite of bracelets, brooches, dress clips, and rings. This particular necklace, on loan from Neil Lane's collection, was worn by actress June Knight, who worked in film between 1930-1940. According to IMDB, though her roles in film were underwhelming, her presence on Broadway kept her front and center throughout the 1940s. Viewers will also see up close an astonishing suite of jewels worn by Joan Crawford. With its highly polished yellow gold flourishes, aquamarine links, and diamond accents, this gorgeous piece was crafted by Verger Freres in around 1935. The necklace, brooch, and bracelet represent the moderne look with their repeating shapes and mechanical appearance. This beautiful exhibition is on view at the MFA from September 9, 2014 until March 8, 2015, in the Loring Gallery. The exhibition is sponsored by generous donation from Neil Lane Jewelry, with additional support from the David and Roberta Logie Fund for Textile and Fashion Arts and the Loring Textile Gallery Exhibition Fund. To learn more, we invite you to visit the MFA's website.