Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The Met's Hidden Fashion Treasures


Why must the Met torture us! Every time I go to their costume exhibit it is small and not satisfying. But if you just happen to search through their historical clothing collection you will be amazed with all the hats, shoes, frocks, and waistcoats they have hidden away from us. I have a feeling I would have worn this in a past life. Go here, pop in the selected dates you want to limit the clothing collection to then on the next screen hit The Costume Institute and be ready to be wowed. Bonus: you can save all your favourites to My Met Museum.

10 comments:

  1. Hi Heather- at first I had a bit of trouble getting around the site- but then I got it! I already started saving on My met gallery- Love the stuff! There's these adorable little Venetian shoes... Thanks so much!!

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  2. What's the Met up to? The last costume show I saw was Paul Poiret and it was in the modern wing and the basement was closed. No signs, nothing. Now the CI has no shows on, nor are any listed for the future. Is the basement open again with selections from the perm. collection?

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  3. that green dress is the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen!

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  4. The costume area is in the basement, has a difficult entrance to find and is constantly closed. Last time I went it wasn't open. That's why the amount of fabulous clothing in their collection is shocking to me. I know they've put out books before but I think they should have one like the kyoto's institute's!

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  5. Yes! If only they would publish a series on their permanent collection. Those Kyoto books are beautifully done.

    I'm bummed to know the CI is still acting up. They need to pull their socks up! I feel robbed when I trek to NY and there's no display.

    PS Have you seen the Met's 80's video, Eighteenth Century Woman? I think it may only be on VHS, but it has some gorgeous costumes and interviews Diana Vreeland and others. (Though not nearly as wonderful as the Dangerous Liaisons show, which I still dream about.)

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  6. I do believe The Met has been holding out on us - what a vast and fabulous collection!

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  7. Met's been bothering me for a long time now... I've never been there. But they have sooooooo much good stuff and a lot of it they haven't even bothered to photograph on mannequins - just hung up on hangers. I feel it's kinda sad... =/

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  8. I hear you! I was so excited the first time I went, but the costume Institute was closed and nothing was on display :(

    I suppose at least if it's tucked away safely it's not disintegrating so fast?

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  9. I too get really upset when I trek down to NY and the MET costume exhibit is closed. Thanks for this tip. I guess it is the next best thing to seeing it in person.
    By the way, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has fabulous costume exhibits too and every time I've dropped in they have something marvelous on display. Even their regular exhibits on the other floors, incorporate elements of costume.

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  10. That's true the V&A is known for their costume exhibits, I've seen a couple good ones there. Lauren and I will be in London in a few days, we'll have to stop by and see what's new!

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