Christian Dior - Designer of Dreams

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams was on display at the Brooklyn Museum. It was an intensive and detailed look at the legacy of one of the greatest designers of all time and the legacy that he left behind. Most of the items on display were from the brands rich archive and included pieces from the well known Dior clientele. Marilyn Monroe, Lady Diana, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and others wore Dior in some of the most memorable moments of pop culture history. Well known designers that worked as creative directors include Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri. The Legacy of Christian Dior the brand is made up of people who deeply care for fashion and have their own clear creative vision. The occasional “Christian Dior Flow” is heard in various songs and further solidifies the brands permanent place not just in fashion but also in popular culture.

Cross Colours - Black Fashion in the 20th Century

Cross Colours was founded by TJ Walker and Carl Thomas who took inspiration from street and skate culture This exhibition was shown at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles, California. Cross Colors is essential to understanding Hip Hop culture outside of music. The brand was seen on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as well as various Spike Lee films. Cross Colours is a staple in streetwear discourse and fundamental in understanding the culture. The groundbreaking brand continues to live up to its message of clothing without prejudice. While streetwear continues to be a staple in the fashion industry, it’s exciting that one of the founding brands is still relevant today.

Kimono Style - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Kimono Style looks at the history and evolution of the Kimono. Starting during the late Edo period through the 20th century. The John C Webber collection of Japanese art look at the connection between Western fashion and the Kimono. The exhibition explores the weaving and dying techniques that were used as well as the sumptuary laws that allowed different people different modes of expression. After being studied by western cultures couturiers like Madeleine Vionnet and Cristóbal Balenciaga took inspiration from the kimono for their avant-garde creations. You see the influence of western fashion arrive in the east with the evolution of the Kimono and what shapes it starts to evolve into. 

The exhibition is made possible by the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation Fund, 2015.

The catalog is made possible by the Florence and Herbert Irving Fund for Asian Art Publications. Additional support is provided by the Richard and Geneva Hofheimer Memorial Fund.

The Museum Of The American Indian - Infinity Of Nations

The exhibition looks at North, Central, and South America, and the indigenous groups that called these places home before colonization. Throughout the exhibition, you can view various textiles that were worn by these Indigenous groups such as glasses to block out the sun or ceremonial clothing that was reserved for tribal leaders. The early Americas were made up of small societies that were hunter and gatherers. The objects in this exhibition were collected by George Gust of New York who, during his lifetime collected over 800,000 artifacts. These objects offer a distinct perspective on these indigenous people and some of the objects date back to 11,000 B.C. While these objects are a way to see into the past, they also give the viewer a look at how people lived and the use of each object. Most, if not all of the objects offered some sort of protection from the elements and served a purpose outside of aesthetics.

Winold Reiss - An Immigrant Modernist

Winold Reiss is an expert painter, illustrator, graphic and interior designer, and master of decorative arts. Reiss is credited for bringing the European Modernist sensibility to the American Public through visual culture and cementing it in daily life. This exhibit was an intimate look at the work of Reiss. His portraits include images of figures like Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. Other items on display include pieces from his interior design work that occupied the Hotel St. George as well as his graphic design for menus, calendars, books, and advertising. 

The Art of Winold Reiss is curated by Marilyn Satin Kushner, curator of prints, photographs, and architectural collections, and Debra Schmidt Bach, curator of decorative arts and special exhibitions, with contributions from Wendy Nalani E. Ikemoto, senior curator of American art.

200 TRUNKS, 200 VISIONARIES: THE EXHIBITION

This show is a celebration of the Louis Vuitton trunk that was first created in 1821. Most of the vintage trunks were made in the 1900s and are popular among collectors and supporters of Louis Vuitton. The trunks were and still are covered in materials like canvas, with various metal facets, cowhide, and other exotic skins. The exhibit is a way for creatives like Gloria Steinem, Francesca Sorrenti, Willo Perron, and Franky Zapata to share their visions for a better world and technological achievements. Each unique trunk has a special meaning given to it by the artist and is a unique way to share the heritage of a brand that is well-known throughout the world. At the end of the exhibit, there is a workshop space that offers the opportunity to create a custom trunk and other activities that share the theme of free expression and creativity that was seen throughout the exhibit.

Patrick Kelly - Runway of Love. Peabody - Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.

While most visitors to Salem in early October are here for Halloween, the Peabody - Essex museum housed an unexpected fashion exhibition, Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love.

Patrick Kelly from Vicksburg, Mississippi, (1954-1990) was influential in breaking down the barriers in the fashion industry. As a self-taught designer, his passion is what helped launch him and his designs to celebrity status. In 1979 Kelly moved to Paris and worked odd jobs and soon after opened his atelier in 1985. His work is known for highlighting the Black and queer experience as well as systemic racism in a way that celebrates these aspects as well. 

In 1988 Kelly was the first American designer that was invited to the  Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode (Trade Union of Ready-to-Wear Couturiers and Fashion Designers). The exhibition shares 75 full ensembles that highlight Kelly’s creative vision.