Fashion Unraveled

Fashion & Textile History GalleryMay 25, 2018 - November 17, 2018
banner with text that reads: Fashion Unraveled May 25-November 17, 2018

 

Fashion Unraveled was not your typical fashion exhibition. Rather than feature pristine clothes that exemplify a theme, a time period, or a designer's aesthetic, it explored the roles of memory and imperfection in fashion. The exhibition also highlighted the aberrant beauty in flawed objects, giving precedence to garments that have been altered, left unfinished, or deconstructed. These selections underscored one elemental fact about clothing: that it is designed to be worn and has, in some cases, been worn out.

Traces of wear, shortened hemlines, and careful mends can be found even on haute couture designs. These alterations signify the lasting economic and emotional value of clothing and, in some cases, challenge the concept of fashion as a strictly ephemeral, disposable commodity. Unless such imperfections are intentional — as they are in deconstructed fashion — these garments are often overlooked within museum collections. If they are selected for exhibition, curators rely on the expert work of a conservator, a gallery's low lighting, or strategic placement to cleverly obscure flaws. In recent years, however, as interest in the "biographies" of garments has grown, fashion historians have begun to reassess imperfect objects. Studies of specific items may reveal intriguing histories about their wearers and/or makers, poignant reminders of the deeply personal and physical relationships we have with our clothes.

strapless oatmeal colored dress with black and red stitching and black fabric stitched to left side, draped over shoulder
Yohji Yamamoto dress, muslin and cotton, spring 2000, Japan, museum purchase, 2010.37.5
light blue and brown sheer chiffon full length gown with corset bodice
Jean Dessès evening gown, silk chiffon, 1956, France, gift of Lady Arlene Kieta, 96.112.1

not your typical fashion exhibition

This exhibition underscored one elemental fact about clothing: that it is designed to be worn and has, in some cases, been worn out.
brochure front and back covers

Exhibition Brochure

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Fashion Unraveled Colloquium: Memory, Wear, and Imperfection in Dress

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Worn in New York

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Behind The Seams

Clothing brought into The Museum at FIT collection sometimes arrives with tales about its maker, its wearer, or its historical significance. While these anecdotes are documented in the museum’s database, curators usually do not reference them when a garment is displayed. Such stories are not always evident in an object's appearance. A 1956 evening gown by Jean Desses is a stunning example of the couturier's work, but the information provided by its donor is also of note. The gown was gifted by Lady Arlene Kieta, one of Desses's models, who disclosed to the museum that it was made from 66 yards of chiffon fabric and cost $15,000 at the time of its creation.

Mended And Altered

The economic value of clothing often ensured its long-term maintenance, and many objects owned by MFIT show signs of mending and alterations. A set of stays from circa 1750 was enlarged by adding panels of mismatched fabric at the waist, reshaping it for a changed figure or a new wearer. An owner might have myriad reasons to modify a garment — to keep pace with newly fashionable silhouettes, for example, or for use as a theater costume. Others reconditioned their clothes for sentimental reasons. A Chanel suit worn by fashion photographer Louise Dahl-Wolfe shows evidence of alterations and replacement components, revealing her ongoing affection for the ensemble.

blue, orange and yellow embroidered stay
Stays, silk brocade, circa 1750, France, gift of Miss Adele Simpson, 68.144.14
dark colored suit with long sleeve jacket and skater skirt
Chanel suit, double knit wool, circa 1935, France, gift of Louise Dahl-Wolfe, 76.53.1

Repurposed

Repurposed garments are made from existing clothing or textiles into something new. Such designs highlight both the resourcefulness of their makers and the lasting value of the materials. Charles Frederick Worth, a couturier who was well known for using luxurious fabrics, fashioned a circa 1890 evening cape from eighteenth-century lace. A 1966 jumpsuit designed and worn by Betsey Johnson takes a more colorful approach: it was cleverly remade from rugby shirts worn by her then-partner, musician John Cale. By the 1990s, repurposing was often used to make a statement about overconsumption and obsolescence in fashion.

recycled brown sweaters stitched together with yellow and blue yarn
XULY.Bët (Lamine Kouyaté) ensemble, acrylic and nylon, fall 1994, gift of XULY.Bët, 95.7.2
multicolored striped longsleeve jumpsuit
Betsey Johnson jumpsuit, cotton jersey, 1966, USA, gift of Betsey Johnson, 90.173.1

Unfinished

Unfinished garments initially may not seem worthy of inclusion in a museum collection, but they can provide fascinating insight into the processes of making fashion. An unknown dressmaker embellished a circa 1880 bustle gown with an unusual, raw-edged trim — but what is even more intriguing is that the dress was never finished. In several areas, the garment's trim was left basted on rather than properly stitched. Today an unfinished appearance, often in the form of frayed edges, is fashionable even among high-end designers. An Oscar de la Renta dress from 2002 is adorned with sequins, ostrich feathers, and an artfully unraveled hem.

cream and brown dress with bustle, corset bodice and ruffles spiraling down bottom
Dress, wool and taffeta, circa 1880, USA, museum purchase, P86.66.1
black and white sleeveless dress with black feathers at the bottom
Oscar de la Renta dress, tweed, ostrich feathers, and beads, 2002, USAgift of Elizabeth Graham Weymouth, 2017.67.1

Distressed And Deconstructed

Distressed and deconstructed fashion has a deliberately worn or imperfect aesthetic — a concept that became increasingly important during  the latter half of the twentieth century. Giorgio di Sant'Angelo fashioned garments from bleached, irregularly stitched panels of suede during the late 1960s. By the early 1980s, Rei Kawakubo's work for her label Comme des Garcons took those ideas to a new extreme: a black knit T-shirt was intentionally faded, and its asymmetrical pieces were haphazardly assembled, leaving gaps and unfinished edges. Martin Margiela's spring 1990 "tabi" boots were heavily varnished with thick white paint. He intended the boots to continually crack and deteriorate over time — calling attention to fashion’s ephemerality.

long sleeve black shirt with cut outs along arms

Comme des Garçons T-shirt, cotton knit, 1983, Japan, gift of Ms. Terry Melville, 90.98.69

white ankle tabi boots

Maison Martin Margiela boots, painted canvas, spring 1990, Belgium, gift of Richard Martin, 92.182.1

red long sleeve jackets with slits along arms and front and back of jacket

Vivienne Westwood jacket, rayon satin, spring 1991, England, museum purchase, 98.140.1

Fashion Unraveled was organized by Colleen Hill, curator of costume and accessories at The Museum at FIT. 
Fashion Unraveled was supported by the Couture Council.

Coutre Council