Visit "Fabulous Fashion" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

"Mercury" dress on display in Fabulous Fashion. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art.   Fabulous Fashion: From Dior's New Look to Now remains on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art until March 3rd. With only a few weeks left, those of you reading from Philadelphia will not want to miss this opportunity to see the evolution of fashion from every conceivable angle.  

Experience Drama + Glamour

Set on the first floor in the Dorrance Special Exhibitions Galleries, Fabulous Fashion opens with two pink Dior creations set in contrast to one another. Dior fashioned a New Look in 1948. Its tailored bodice and skirt in pale pink satin stands as the historical premiere of modern ready-to-wear couture. Beside it, in hot pink with a wool stole, stands the suit designed by John Galliano for Dior in 1998. The stark contrast between color, texture, and design epitomizes the aim of the exhibition: to demonstrate how designers continually reinvent the art of fashion through the use of color, pattern, shape, volume, draping, metallics, and embellishments. Speaking of metallics, my favorite dress is the "Mercury" evening dress created for the fall/winter season of 1994-95. Designed by Geoffrey Beene, the silver lame dress truly resembles molten metal. I also adore the yellow halter top dress fashioned by Italian designer Emilio Schuberth. It features halter bodice falls into a 1950s flare skirt, embellished with purple ribbons at the bustline and low down in the center of the skirt. It also has dimensional roses in yellow, with purple embroidered leaves.  

Two Special Museum Patrons

Fabulous Fashion began as a way to celebrate a recent donation from Kathleen Field. Married to the late Martin P. Field, developer, Kathleen Field invited Kristina Haugland, the Le Vine Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles, to visit her estate. Haugland returned to the museum with a donation of 80 designer items from the former fashion model and interior designer. From there, Haugland decided to expand her idea and include a selection of other acquisitions received from another generous donor, Annette Y. Friedland. Haugland describes Field's taste as "exuberant." Perhaps the most exuberant of her donations is the Lacroix catsuit. She also donated the pink Dior suit which opens the show. Though Field and Friedland are friends, their tastes are wildly different. In juxtaposition to the bolder, more outlandish choices made by Field, Friedland's tastes run toward the reserved. On display are several Pierre Cardin dresses, as well as a gown by Emilio Schuberth. Perhaps this is the same yellow halter dress I love!  

Fabulous Fashion

From the very beginning, Kristina Haugland wanted to take visitors on a trip of whimsy and fun. Rather than turning this exhibition into a grand teachable moment, she aimed to immerse viewers in the color, form, and texture of the fabrics and accessories. She uses multi-level platforms paired with rose and blue lighting in order to afford stunning views of the dresses from all angles. Haugland hopes this approach will slow the pace and allow for a more immersive experience, where visitors see firsthand the sculptural quality of these three-dimensional works of wearable art. She wants the gowns to excite, inspire, and impart the joy of fashion. “Everyone has the experience of wearing clothes, and can imagine what it would be like ,” Haugland said. Between now and March 3rd, you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in seven decades of haute couture and ready-to-wear fashion. For more details, I invite you to visit the museum's website.