About
Designers have long found inspiration in the world around them, from everyday objects to works of fine art. The pieces featured in this collection illustrate the complex, highly culturally referential nature of fashion. Among them is a dress by the late Virgil Abloh that comments on the cliché status of the "little black dress," transforming an actual LBD into a label for itself. The outfit functions as a reference to and a reversal of René Magritte's 1929 painting, The Treachery of Images. Martin Margiela's wig coat explores the nature of haute couture, an art form associated with valuable fabrics, elaborate embroidery, and expensive jewels. His choice to use an inexpensive material, in this case polyester wigs, that still requires a great deal of work to create, demonstrates that time and skill are more important signifiers of a garment's value than expensive materials. The sophisticated themes explored in this collection should serve to elevate fashion's status as an art form with widespread appeal.
This collection includes both clothing items and accessories from the 20th and 21st centuries, all of which belong to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. These works come from design houses throughout the world, from Japan to Italy to the United States. Designers featured in the collection include Elsa Schiaparelli, Virgil Abloh, and Jun Takahashi. The collection reflects a diverse range of national identities, materials, cultural references, and philosophical outlooks.