The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an icon. It is one of the most prominent museums in the world. The Costume Institute of the Met has become in and of itself an icon. Mostly due to the media-frenzied Met Gala that happens every May. The Met Gala runs under the leadership of Anna Wintour, so it is no surprise that it has garnered such attention. But the focus of the evening is on (or should be on) The Costume Institute which houses over 35,000 important pieces of fashion from all eras from the 15th Century to current day, thanks in large part from the support of the Friends of the Costume Institute. My fourth year attending, I was honored to go with French couturier, Alexis Mabille.
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Total Met look: Alexis Mabille couture dress, Amber Erin Jewelry vintage earrings, Perrin Paris stingray clutch,
Brian Atwood rare Crystal Pumps. Makeup and Hair by Kiss and Makeup by Meredith |
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| Punk kids graced the stairs on the way up for cocktails |
The "Punk: Chaos to Couture" exhibition, curated by the talented Andrew Bolton, inspires much conversation and debate. I spoke with Andrew at the Gala and expressed my surprise at how tame the show was - considering the topic. He mentioned that others had said the same thing. The show begins with the Godmother of Punk Vivienne Westwood Tshirts, but then moves through the decades with various designers and their own take or inspiration from punk. I agree with others who think the show would have more impact had it been smaller, more intense.
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| First piece of exhibition, stunning |
We walked through the exhibit as Alexis gave me his designer perspective. I drank it in from a fashion lover's perspective. An art lover's perspective. As always, the people watching was fun, but it was most certainly not my favorite year. It felt as if the celebs (and some donors) were trying too hard. And the idea of Punk at a fundraiser seemed a little odd: punk hates everything establishment, money, old people...
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| Alexis looking on |
The Friends of the Met usually are bundled together, with various seating assignments. All of the Friends prove to be extremely interesting, smart, Met enthusiasts. I might say a direct contrast to the celebrity tables that surround. Different this year, after the basically non-existent supper, we headed to the Egyptian room for performances by Blondie and Kanye West. Oh! And dessert of cookies and cupcakes.
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| Punk cookies |
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| Hamish Bowles and Alexis Mabille |
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| The back of Hamish's trousers |
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Blondie on stage
Alexis and I made our way into the Boom Boom Room at the Standard Hotel in the Meat Packing District after the gala for the Givenchy sponsored after party. A packed house as always, the after party was a zoo and fun. After riding in the elevator with a Alexis-gushing Katy Perry, we entered the madness. Loved running into my fashion favorites, Brian Atwood, Mary Katrantzou and Monique Luhllier. |
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| Boom Boom |
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| Brian, me and my BA glass slippers |
Unfortunately, it feels as if this fundraiser has become more about Vogue Magazine than the Met Museum. I'm hoping things will swing the other way eventually. And I believe in the museum and what the Costume Institute does, and I urge everyone to see the exhibit - and maybe a few other things in the museum too. As I said to a friend, the celeb of today is not necessarily the donor of tomorrow. I will proudly remain a believer in the cause and and donor to THE METROPOLITAN OF ART COSTUME INSTITUTE.
1 comment:
Interesting take. It seemed to me, as I looked at the mainstream coverage of the gala that everyone was pretty well in agreement that thinking about punk was a lot more fun than wearing it. Some of the stuff would bebetter stored in Hall of Fame or a Wax Museum It wouldbe a shame if the Vogue fetishists had caused the gala to jump the shark.
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