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| THE LATEST NEWS |
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... What's Happening ...
**A Special Offer Just for You** As subscribers to our newsletter, you are receiving a special invitation to celebrate the launch of the cloth-bound, Limited Edition version of Fashion Designers A-Z, a book based on the collection of The Museum at FIT and published by TASCHEN.
Please join us on February 12, 7-9pm at the TASCHEN Store New York, 107 Greene Street. Pre-purchase is strongly encouraged to ensure availability. Secure your copy by pre-ordering today at 212.226.2212 or email store-ny@taschen.com
RSVP for this event is required: rsvp@taschen.com
**Fashion and Technology Website** The Fashion and Technology exhibition now has it's ownwebsite. You can watch videos, explore and comment on objects via an interactive timeline, and browse a reading list, glossary, and weblinks list.
**Spring Programs Have Sprung** MFIT's Fashion Culture programming is now on the calendar! See below for events in February, but also be sure to check our website for the full spring semester line-up.
**The Night that Changed American Fashion** In 1973, an extraordinary evening left an unforgettable imprint on the fashion industry and forever changed fashion history. Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution recounts the legendary fashion show at Chateau de Versailles that catapulted African American models and American sportswear designers onto the European stage. Don't miss this special screening and talk with the director on Tuesday, March 5, 5:30pm. Please visit our webite for registration information.
**Ivy Style Video Walk-through** Did you miss the Ivy Style exhibition? Well you can still visit it via a video walk-through with MFIT Deputy Director Patricia Mears and co-curator Richard Press. Visit the video page of the Ivy Style website or watch it on the MFIT Youtube page.
**Online Collections has gotten bigger** Over the past few months we've steadily been adding to the MFIT Online Collections. You can search, browse, collect, and share over 850 objects and 1175 images of fashion and accessories dating from the last 300 years to the present. Of note this month? Lots of shoes and accessories!
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PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Fashion Culture: Special Programs |
Fashion Culture programs and events are free unless otherwise indicated, and are organized by The Museum at FIT to provide insightful and intriguing perspectives on the culture of fashion.
Reservations are required. Space is limied.
Talk and Tour: Fashion and Technolgoy
Monday, February 25, 6 pm
Join Emma McClendon, co-curator of Fashion and Technology, for a tour of this revelatory exhibition exploring fashion’s long engagement with technology. Aniline dyes, the sewing machine, synthetic fibers, and the zipper—all were technological advances that sent fashion in new directions. In recent years, designers have made technology central to their collections, while wireless, sewable circuitry and fashion design software have made cyberspace the new nexus of technology and fashion.
Plus One: An Outsider’s Photographic Journey Into the World of Fashion ~ Sharon Socol
Thursday, February 28, 6 pm
Sharon Socol is an intuitive, spontaneous photographer—and a fashion outsider. She attended hundreds of fashion events as her husband’s “plus one” during the eight years that he was CEO of Barneys New York. Her book, Plus One, is Ms. Socol’s photographic record of that unique experience. A book signing will follow the presentation.
The Technology Trap: Fashion, Copying, and the Speed of Information ~ Susan Scafidi, Te Smith, Ariele Elia, and Emma McClendon
Wednesday, March 6, 6 pm
Fashion designers and labels face complex new challenges as technology continues to exponentially advance. Of particular interest to this panel will be issues of design ownership and intellectual property rights. Panelists include law professor Susan Scafidi, who will speak on the legal aspects of copyright and piracy; Te Smith, from the online brand protection company MarkMonitor, who will explain the relationship between information technology and copying; and Ariele Elia and Emma McClendon, curators of the current MFIT exhibition,Fashion and Technology. Organized in collaboration with the Fashion Law Institute.
F4D: Giving Back Is the New Luxury ~ Evie Evangelou
Friday, March 8, 6 pm
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Evie Evangelou is the Global Chair and cofounder of Fashion 4 Development (F4D), which mobilizes the fashion industry worldwide to strengthen communities and generate economic growth by empowering women through job and business opportunities.Organized in collaboration with the FIT Diversity Council.
Antonio Lopez: Fashion, Art, Sex & Disco ~ Roger and Mauricio Padilha
Tuesday, March 12, 6 pm
Authors Roger Padilha and Mauricio Padilha, along with special guests Pat Cleveland and Corey Tippin, discuss their first complete monograph on the work of extraordinary fashion artist and illustrator Antonio Lopez. For three decades, Lopez produced illustrations, paintings, and photographs for Vogue, The New York Times, Women’s Wear Daily, and other publications while executing campaigns for labels as diverse as YSL, Valentino, and Versace. A book signing will follow the presentation.
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CURRENT EXHIBITION
The Fourth Dimension: The Media Club at FIT |
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January 26 - February 9, 2013
The Fourth Dimension is a response to the changing world of graphic design. Time is not only the main design element for all of the projects in this exhibition, but it is also the subject/theme of the exhibition. According to researchers from Oxford University, “time” is the most commonly used noun in the English language; however, it remains a mystery. What is time? Does everyone experience time the same way? Is time a scientific phenomenon that can be universally measured and catalogued? How do different cultures interpret time in their own unique ways? Through the use of motion and interactive technology, this exhibition will explore personal, artistic, academic, and scientific concepts of time.
The Media Design Club at FIT (MDC) was established in 2009 by Prof. C. J. Yeh from the Communication Design Department. It brings together students interested in digital media together outside of the traditional classroom setting. Currently, MDC has 160 members from Communication Design (AAS), Graphic Design (BFA), Advertising Design (BFA), Computer Graphics (BFA), and Illustration (AAS) programs. It is one of the most active student clubs at FIT.
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CURRENT EXHIBITION
Fashion and Technology |
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| Jean Paul Gaultier, jumpsuit, multicolor nylon/spandex, 1996, France, Museum purchase. |
December 4, 2012 - May 8, 2013
Fashion and Technology examines how, throughout history, fashion has engaged with technological advancement and been altered by it. Time and again, fashion’s dynamic relationship with technology has both expanded its aesthetic vocabulary and streamlined its means of production.
In recent years, designers have made technology a focal point of their collections, but as early as the mid-18th century, technological advancements were shaping fashion design and fabrication. The development of aniline dyes, the sewing machine, synthetic fibers, and zippers have all sent fashion in new directions. More recently, so have wireless circuitry and the creation of fashion design software. Technologies outside of the fashion industry also contribute to change within it. These include global transportation, the internet, blogging, online retailing, and the increased speed of global communication through digital platforms and social-media outlets.
The goal of this exhibition is to analyze the impact of technologies on the nature of fashion and its design, and to question whether these developments push the industry forward or ultimately set it back.
Fashion and Technology begins with a display of examples from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as a 1780s suit made with a machine-knit textile, and an 1860s dress produced using synthetic dyes. From there, it showcases prominent developments from different time periods, travelling chronologically all the way to the present day.
The exhibition features objects exclusively from The Museum at FIT’s costume collection alongside a selection of textiles and accessories that highlight the multifaceted nature of technological development. The use of video monitors and computers enhance the exhibition, offering the opportunity to showcase works by small, cutting-edge design teams, such as the Dutch label Freedom of Creation, alongside pieces by fashion icons such as Elsa Schiaparelli, André Courrèges, Issey Miyake, and Nicholas Ghesquière for Balenciaga. Fashion and Technology is organized by Ariele Elia and Emma McClendon.
Visit the Virtual Exhibition |
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UPCOMING EXHIBITION
Shoe Obsession |
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| Roger Vivier (Bruno Frisoni), Eyelash Heel pump, Rendez-Vous (Limited Edition Collection), Fall 2012-2013, Courtesy of Roger Vivier / Photo by Stephane Garrigues. |
February 8 - April 13, 2013
Shoe Obsession examines our culture’s ever-growing fascination with extravagant and fashionable shoes. In fact, designer shoes have overtaken “It” bags as the most coveted fashion accessories. In response, shoe departments in major department stores have undergone significant expansions, and the “great designer shoe wars” have escalated. Shoes by established designers such as Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin continue to be bestsellers, while the number of rising stars within the footwear industry is multiplying. Over the past decade, heels have reached new heights—as have prices. High-heeled shoes—the fashion shoes of the 21st century—have become so tall that even a 4-inch heel is considered “low.”
Shoe Obsession will feature approximately 150 examples of contemporary footwear, highlighting the extreme, lavish, and imaginative styles that have made shoes central to fashion. The exhibition will include work by prominent footwear labels such as Manolo Blahnik, Salvatore Ferragamo, Christian Louboutin, and Roger Vivier, as well as shoes from influential design houses, including Azzedine Alaïa, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, and Prada. Avant-garde designers such as Kei Kagami and Noritaka Tatehana—who have made some of the most extreme shoes of the 21st century—will further underscore the exceptional creativity of contemporary shoe design. Shoe Obsession will also include highlights from the incredible shoe collections of several stylish women, including jewelry designer Lynn Ban and fashion icon Daphne Guinness. The exhibition is curated by Dr. Valerie Steele, director and chief curator, and Colleen Hill, associate curator of accessories.
Read More Here |
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UPCOMING EXHIBITION
Boots: The Height of Fashion |
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| Jack Jacobus, Ltd., boot, leather, circa 1900, Austria, gift of Victoria and Albert Museum. |
March 5 - April 6, 2013
Boots: The Height of Fashion examines how boots emerged as a modern fashion phenomenon during the last century and evolved to become a staple of the fashionable woman’s wardrobe. The exhibition features 20 pairs of women’s boots from the museum's permanent collection, including boots originally worn by fashion icons Jane Holzer and Tina Chow. The exhibition takes the view that boots, as objects, are expressive of power, and it explores this concept via three significant sub-themes: sex, rebellion, and status.
Christian Louboutin, Norma Kamali, Yves St. Laurent, Manolo Blahnik, and Marc Jacobs are among the designers featured. Special to this exhibition is a pair of Maison Martin Margiela Tabi boots, likely worn during Margiela’s legendary 1989 fashion show in a Paris, which took place in a vacant lot.
Another highlight of the exhibition is a pair of knee-high boots created by couturier Paul Poiret for his wife, Denise, who created a stir when she wore a similar pair on a trip to New York in 1913.
Rounding out the exhibition is a unique section that gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at museum conservation practices. Highlighted here are the restorative and protective processes that are necessary to prepare boots for exhibition in a gallery.
Students in the Fashion and Textile Studies M.A. program at FIT's School of Graduate Studies have collaborated with the Museum at FIT to present Boots: The Height of Fashion.
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LINKS WE LIKE
A world of fashion is on the web |
She's Tattood
The New Yorker ran this very popular piece on a recent publication on the history of women and tattoo. It's accompanied by a slideshow of wonderful historic photographs.
The Fashion Critic
Much gets said about fashion...in ink and pixels...througout the world. Well, the latest issue of the journalFashion Projects takes a look at those doing the writing. Interviews include Suzy Menkes, Judith Thurman, Guy Trebay, and Robin Givhan.
Innaugural Choices
Deputy Director Patricia Mears describes the First Lady's bold inaugural style and how she's become a fashion icon in this brief video for AP.
The King of Queens
Ebony Magazine explains why RuPaul and drag matter. A super piece to mark 20 years since RuPaul's debut.
Just over the Bridge
This fascinating article (with lovely photos) examines the rich history of Brooklyn dressmakers by looking at pieces newly aquired by the Metropolitan Museum from the Brooklyn Museum's Costume Collection. It's also written by an FIT alum!
Tim Walker: Story Teller
Valerie Steele reviews Walker's latest publication for The New York Times.
Oh yeah....men in heels!
The era of women walking around on their toes is in full swing, but that wasn't always the case. For generations heels signified femininity and glamour for men. BBC writer William Kremer explains why men stopped wearing high heels.
A Cut Above: The Tailored Look
This video shows the prepartion for an exhibition on Saville Row tailors at the British Embassy in Tokyo. Includes fun footage of Fred Astaire.
A history of hatmaking with ARTstor
A graduate professor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill uses ARTstor for its diverse visual examples to teach historical hat-making.
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| MUSEUM PUBLICATIONFashion Designers A-Z |
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| Book Cover |
From Azzedine Alaïa, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and Coco Chanel, to Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, and Vivienne Westwood, a century's worth of fashion greats from the permanent collection of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology are celebrated in this limited-edition volume.
Photographs of over 500 garments selected from the Museum's permanent collection illuminate each of the featured designers, while texts by the curators explain why each designer is important in fashion history and what is special about the individual pieces featured. In her introductory essay, director and chief curator Valerie Steele writes about the rise of the fashion museum, and the emergence of the fashion exhibition as a popular and controversial phenomenon; and both Steele and contributorSuzy Menkes provide a history of this museum's role in the world of fashion scholarship and preservation.
Fashion Designers A-Z is available as a series of six Designer Editions. Each edition (a total of 11,000 copies) is bound in a fabric created by one of six designers-Akris, Etro, Stella McCartney, Missoni, Prada, and Diane von Furstenberg-and comes in a Plexiglas box. Crafted by hand at a bindery in the heart of Italy, and stamped with a unique number, every copy is an instant classic, and an addition to your fashion library that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Valerie Steele is director and chief curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology and founding editor of Fashion Theory. Described in The Washington Post as one of "fashion's brainiest women," Steele combines serious scholarship (and a Yale Ph.D.) with a rare ability to communicate with general audiences. As author, curator, editor, and public intellectual, Steele has been instrumental in creating the modern field of fashion studies.
Undisputed doyenne of the international fashion press, Suzy Menkes is head fashion editor of theInternational Herald Tribune. Among the world's most influential fashion critics, she is an officer of the Order of the British Empire as well as a chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur. She lives and works in Paris.
Available from |
TASCHEN
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| MUSEUM INFORMATION |
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| The Museum at FIT is dedicated to advancing knowledge of fashion through exhibitions, programs and publications. |
The Museum is open to the public free of charge,
Tuesday - Friday, Noon - 8pm, and Saturday 10 am - 5pm.
Located on the Southwest corner of Seventh Avenue at 27th Street in New York City, the museum can be reached by subway:
1, C, E, F, M, N, or R, and
by bus: M20 and M23.
Penn Station is close by at
31st Street for the Long
Island Railroad, New
Jersey Transit, and Amtrak.
For more information, be sure to visit our website at www.fitnyc.edu/museum or phone our information line at212-217-4558 |
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