Video Song: "Words I Never Said" - Lupe Fiasco ft. Skylar Grey
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Hey Guys!
What a fabulous week of weather! I hope it stays. Anyway, Jessica and I were very intrigued by this year's Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume institute Gala aka the Met Gala. The Met Gala is an annual event that celebrates the opening on an exhibition in fashion. This year they were honoring late imaginative designer, Alexander McQueen. The Gala (as well as the exhibit) was entitled 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.' A-List celebrities walked the red carpet to honor the master tailor who ended his own life last year.
On Wednesday, May 11 - Jessica and I decided to pay a visit to the Metropolitan Museum to check this exhibition out and let me tell you it was quite an excursion. We weren't really allowed to film (but we sneaked in a couple of shots if you look at the video, that's Scene Stealers for you lol). There were ensembles from his postgraduate collection of 1992 to his final runway presentation, which took place after his death in February 2010. His pieces definitely made a statement (think Lady Gaga), the ambiance gave me the creeps, but at the same time captured my attention. He definitely took me to a place I've never been. I felt that the presentation was a kind of monsterish, but not in a bad way…more like in a beautiful monster way. Although 90% of the stuff that was in there I couldn’t really see myself wearing, especially when accessories include masks and tails (lol). Overall though, he managed to push the envelope and try to convey the message that beauty comes from within. I love the creativity and his carefree passion!
“You’ve got to know the rules to break them. That what I’m here for, to demolish the rules to keep the tradition” -Alexander McQueenSavage Beauty had themes such as Gothic design, exoticism and nationalism (Check out Jessica's post for more information on each theme). To me his pieces represented the combination of past, present and future. You can find feathers, leather, shoulder pads, flowers, and hair as his materials. It was oddly brilliant. Yes, some were a little outrageous, but for him to come up with theses ideas and make it real is very commendable. I also loved how McQueen appreciated and embraced the curves of a woman’s body! He definitely idealized the female form.
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| AMQ Creative Designer, Sarah Burton at the Met Gala |
Did you know that Duchess Catharine's wedding dress designed by Alexander McQueen? Yup it sure was, Creative Director of Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton who know runs the label, created it! She actually designed not one but TWO wedding gowns! ( I can only imagine the pressure).
The Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty will be up from May 4th - July 31st, 2011, so definitely go out there check it out and its free! There's also so many other beautiful exhibitions that you guys should look at. To me art equals expression, expression is powerful... its important to find a way to express yourself. This blog to me is our art! :) Other then facebook/twitter, how do you express yourself? The world is your playground, use your imagination!
xo, Samantha
Song of the week "Beautiful Monster" - Ne-Yo
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What's up,
Earlier this month, they opened a special exhibit celebrating the works of fashion designer, Alexander McQueen entitled "Savage Beauty". The exhibit itself features approximately 100 ensembles and 70 accessories from McQueen's prolific 19 year career. What I found so interesting about his work is that McQueen challenged and expanded fashion beyond just utility to include a conceptual expression of culture, politics and identity. Each gallery (seven in total) showcased these recurring themes and concepts in extravagant way.
The first gallery, "The Romantic Mind," examined this technical ingenuity with tailoring, pattern making, draping and dressmaking. Alexander McQueen himself said, "Through cutting I try to draw attention to our relenting desire for perfection. The body parts that I focus on change depending on the inspiration and reference for the collection and what silhouettes they demand." In these collections, Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims (1992) and Taxi Driver (Autumn/Winter 1993-94), McQueen showcases his imagination and confidence. His iconic designs such as the three-point "origami" frockcoat and "bumsters" are also introduced in this gallery.
Next was the "Romantic Gothic," which highlighted McQueen's historicism. In this area, you can see his interest in the 19th century, especially the Victorian Gothic, as well as the concepts of life and death. There's something very melancholy about these works. McQueen's collections, Dante (Autumn/Winter 1996–97), Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, inspired by Tim Burton), and the unofficially titled Angels and Demons (Autumn/Winter 2010–11) are on display in this gallery.
Next was the "Romantic Gothic," which highlighted McQueen's historicism. In this area, you can see his interest in the 19th century, especially the Victorian Gothic, as well as the concepts of life and death. There's something very melancholy about these works. McQueen's collections, Dante (Autumn/Winter 1996–97), Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, inspired by Tim Burton), and the unofficially titled Angels and Demons (Autumn/Winter 2010–11) are on display in this gallery.
"Romantic Nationalism," gave us a look at McQueen's patriotism, including his reflections on his Scottish heritage and his fascination with British history. McQueen's reasons for displaying his patriotism in his fashion can be summed up in this quote, "The reason I'm patriotic about Scotland is because I think its been dealt a really hard hand. Its marked the world over as...haggis...bagpipes. But no one ever puts anything back into it." Highland Rape (Autumn/Winter 1995-96) collection was meant to express the horror of the 18th century Jacobite Rising and the 19th century Highland Clearances. While his Widows of Culloden collection was a more wistful interpretation the final battle of of the Jacobite Rising. His reflections of England and London (more particularly) in his Autumn/Winter 2008-09 collection, The Girl Who Lived in a Tree was very fairy tale inspired and dream-like.
In "Romantic Exoticism," McQueen explored the influence of other cultures on his imagination. Countries like India, China, Africa, Turkey and Japan heavily influenced his collections, VOSS (Spring/Summer 2001), It's Only a Game (Spring/Summer 2005), and Scanners (Autumn/Winter 2003-04). With these collections, McQueen wanted break down barriers stating, "I want to be honest about the world we live in, and sometimes my political persuasions come through in my work. Fashion can be really racist, looking at the clothes of other cultures as costumes...that's mundane and it's old hate."
Followed by that gallery was "Romantic Primitivism." In these collections, Nihilism (Spring/Summer 1994), Eshu (Autumn/Winter 2000-01), It's a Jungle Out There (Autumn/Winter 1997-98) and Irere (Spring/Summer 2003), there's a lot of tribalism present. He has taken an in-depth look at ancient African tribes and the rituals in how they dress. He captures this idea of "noble savagery" in these collections.
In the final gallery, "Romantic Naturalism," McQueen shows an interest in raw materials and various forms in nature. "I have always loved the mechanics of natures and of a greater or lesser extend my work is always informed by that," said McQueen. Collections like Plato's Atlantis (Spring/Summer 2010) and Sarabande (Spring/Summer 2007) were inspired by Charles Darwin's On the Origins of Species as well as evolution and the ideas of devolution.
In the mist of these structured galleries is the "Cabinet of Curiosities" that include various ancient and fetishized accessories produced in collaboration with jewelers and milliners (hatters). In the "Cabinet," you'll feel as though you are in the middle of Lady Gaga's closet. You can see where she has gotten her inspiration of a lot of her ensembles. Also in the "Cabinet," are video highlights from ten of McQueen's renowned runaway presentations. If you know anything about McQueen, you'll know that he is best known for this astonishing and extravagant runway presentations, which often gave dramatic scenarios and narrative structures that suggested avant-garde installations and in many case performance art. (Click here for an example)You may have noticed that the main recurring theme in all the galleries is the romantic. His collections can be categorized as mysterious or even moody, but there is not doubt that they are alluring. McQueen definitely used his fashion as an outlet for his emotions and his deepest and more often darkest aspects of his imagination were showcased.
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| R.I.P. March 17 1969 - February 11, 2010 |
If you are in the New York area, this exhibit is an imperative must see. The clothes that are on display are more than just fashion...its the expression of the powers of a creative mind. His works shows no limits to boundaries or conventions...and its inspiring. Even if you are not into fashion, you'll appreciate the architecture, geometry, physic, history and social commentary in all of McQueen's designs.
So go checkout the show!! Its on display until July 31st at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Song of the Week: "Give Me Everything" - Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
xo, Jessica
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