The Nazi occupation of Paris lasted from June 14, 1940 to August 25, 1944. The Nazi authorities initially planned to move the entire Paris fashion industry to the German Reich. Lucian Lelong, then head of the Chambre Syndicale, convinced them that the haute couture could only exist, “in Paris or . . . not at all.” Among those who could legally purchase Paris couture during the Occupation were some 20,000 French women (who had special couture ration cards) about 200 Germans, and citizens of neutral countries, such as Spain and Switzerland.
Have you already been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see this year’s fashion extravaganza, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination? It’s pretty amazing, right? But did you know that the exhibit also extends to The Cloisters museum in upper Manhattan? If you haven’t made it up there yet, then you are seriously missing out on seeing many of the best pieces in the exhibit! But don’t worry, you’ve still got time to see everything, including this ethereal design by one of our favorites, Jean Paul Gaultier!
The Communion Ensemble, from Gaultier’s Spring /Summer 2007 Haute Couture Collection, is made of pink silk mousseline and displays a chalice formed out of gathered chiffon and overlaid with a brown cotton lace applique, which echoes the delicate filigree of an adjacent chalice displayed on the same gallery. While the foot of the chalice rests on the stomach of the wearer, the bowl quit literally “cups” her breasts — a typical JPG provocation.
Sandals Detail
Given the chalice’s role in celebrating the Eucharist and containing the consecrated wine believed to be transformed into the blood of Christ during Mass, this garment’s placement in The Cloisters all the more incendiary.
Photographed at the Met Cloisters. Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, is on View Through October 8th, 2018 at both the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Fifth Avenue and Cloisters Locations) in NYC.
This dress, part of Dutch designer Iris van Herpin’s Autumn 2102 haute couture collection, was 3D printed using a process called Stereolithography. It was built layer by layer in a vessel of liquid polymer. The polymer hardens when struck by a laser beam. This technique allows for more texture and transparency than selective laser sintering. Graphic and organic elements come together to evoke dimensional lacework.
Fabricated from ark orange epoxy by Materialise, hand-sanded and hand-sprayed with a technical transparent resin, this is the second 3D printed dress by van Herpin to be featured as part of this blog’s Eye On Design series.
Photographed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art as Part of the Manus X Machina Fashion Exhibit, which has Now Closed.
The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk is a must-see event at the Brooklyn Museum, on exhibit through February 23rd, 2014. Presented in this fourth post from the show is our final set of photos, featuring one of a kind selections from the Skin Deep and Metropolis Galleries. Enjoy!
Yellow Tartan Punk-Inspired Outfits by John Paul Gaultier (All Photos By Gail)
These fabulous photos of High Fashion creations come from the Punk CanCan Gallery at the Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibit on now through February 23rd, 2014 at the Brooklyn Museum. I visited two weeks ago and was completely blown away by how imaginative and fun this multi-gallery exhibit is. It is a must see for all lovers of art and fashion.
Punk CanCan showcases Gaultier’s blended vision of Parisian Classicism with London Punk.
Fabrics and materials range from leather and vinyl/plastic to denim and metal or beaded accents.
This image of the Virgin Mary is the detail from the front panel of a long skirt.
Beaded Skull Detail from the back of a jacket.
This mind-boggling chiffon camouflage dress required 312 hours to make and was worn by Sarah Jessica Parker to the 2000 MTV Awards.
In the center of the Punk Cancan gallery, an automated Runway mimicking a Catwalk rotates mannequins in a circle around the platform. This makes it easy to just stand in one place to get the photos you want, allowing time, of course, for intruding heads and bodies to step out of the frame!
One can be seen in the above photo lifting a gigantic cancan skirt to reveal a kicking leg motif on the lining. Pretty clever!
Eiffel Tower Dress!
The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk is on Exhibit Through February 23rd, 2014 at the Brooklyn Museum, Located at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052 (Take the 2 or 3 Trains to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum). The Exhibit is in the Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing and Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Gallery on the 5th Floor. Admission to the Exhibit is $15 and is separate from General Admission to the Museum. Students with ID and Corporate Members Pay $10. Members see Gaultier for free. On-site ticket sales end at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 9:00 PM on Thursday. Hours are Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Thursday: 11:00 AM –10:00 PM, Friday – Sunday: 11:00 AM– 6:00 PM.
