Loving fashion as we do, it was decided by all to visit the Metropolitan Museum in New York and view the Charles James exhibit that runs until August 10th.
*Charles James
During James lifetime (1906-1978) his fascination with the female form was a constant theme throughout his career. He used a range of techniques (spiraling, draping, sculpting and folding) to achieve startling results.
Though not as well known as many of his contemporaries, he was a true visionary who was “beyond fashion”. In fact, he was an artist who chose to work with fabric as his main medium of expression.
For example, he was among the first designers to use a zipper in a dress and, along with Schiaparelli, the first to use a visible zipper as a decoration. His “Taxi” dress included a zipper with a large, obvious placket that spiraled completely around the body.
And, if you can believe it, he used billiard cloth (the felt used for pool tables) for evening wraps. This exceptional creativity reminds me of Alexander McQueen’s 2011 exhibit that we also saw at the Met. One of his most exciting creations was a beautiful gown made of black parachute silk that was absolutely stunning.
It’s interesting to compare these two: the McQueen exhibit was a blockbuster with a record-breaking attendance of over 600,000 visitors, while the James is a more subdued affair that is being held in two different spots in the Met itself. Personally, I think this is a mistake.
But let’s face it, the McQueen exhibit really raised the bar for dramatic presentation: the fashions themselves coupled with theatrical lighting and dramatic music offered an exhilarating and breakthrough show.
Both are remarkable creative talents and, it should be noted, James influenced many of today’s well-known designers – he was a talent clearly ahead of his time.
- Shaun
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I just read an article that sounded – to me at least – like “a canary in a coal mine” or an early warning of danger. This piece, written by Joe Pompeo, appeared in the May 2020 issue of Vanity Fair magazine with the title “The British Tabloid Invasion” and a subtitle that read, “How the Daily Mail is conquering American gossip.”
The paparazzi horde, La Dolce Vita, 1960 – photo courtesy of Vanity Fair
Apparently the good old U.S. is a nation of “not great” sleepers. Really? And I thought I was the only one! According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it was revealed that one out of three Americans are chronically sleep-deprived. Yikes!
I think we’re all taken by the incredible mystique of the famous French fashion house, Hermès that has been with us for two centuries and is still owned and operated by the same family. From its beginnings in fine equestrian leather goods, they are – in the tumultuous year 2020 – best known for their handbags and many other items.
My image of Hermès has always been rarified products at equally rarified prices so imagine my surprise when I recently received a very stylish publication of theirs in the mail.
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