Charles James Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum

Very much like the discovery of buried treasures in the tombs of Egypt, or ashes of Pompeii, we have now uncovered a lost genius, and with that forgotten fashion treasures. Like Mozart, or Van Gogh,  the end James' life was not marked with fame, prestige, or money. Quietly forgotten, Charles James is making a huge comeback, after death. As the featured designer of the Met Gala 2014, and accompanying exhibition of his fashion gems now on display at Anne Wintour Costume Center at the Met, it is safe to say, everyone will know who he is now. 

The Costume Institute’s new Anna Wintour Costume Center will open its exhibition Charles James: Beyond Fashion, on May 8 through August 10, 2014.  The exhibition will explore James’s design process and his use of sculptural, scientific, and mathematical approaches to construct revolutionary ball gowns and innovative tailoring that continue to influence designers today.  

“Charles James considered himself an artist, and approached fashion with a sculptor’s eye and a scientist’s logic,” said Mr. Campbell.  “As such, the Met is the ideal place to explore the rich complexity of his innovative work.”   

“Charles James was a wildly idiosyncratic, emotionally fraught fashion genius who was also committed to teaching,” said Harold Koda, Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute. 

 “He dreamt that his lifetime of personal creative evolution and the continuous metamorphosis of his designs would be preserved as a study resource for students.  In our renovated galleries, we will fulfill his goal and illuminate his design process as a synthesis of dressmaking, art, math, and science.”

“James was an artist who chose fabric and its relationship to the human body as his medium of expression,” said Jan Glier Reeder, Consulting Curator in The Costume Institute, who is organizing the exhibition with Harold Koda. “In fact, a devoted James client once said, ‘...his work went beyond fashion and was a fine art.’” Beyond Fashion was also the title James chose for the autobiography he never wrote.  

Charles James was the innovator and creator of design elements: wrap-over trousers, figure-eight skirts, body-hugging sheaths, ribbon capes and dresses, spiral-cut garments, and poufs.  He also made iconic ball gowns from the late 1940s and early 1950s–the "Clover Leaf," "Butterfly," "Tree".

 “He dreamt that his lifetime of personal creative evolution and the continuous metamorphosis of his designs would be preserved as a study resource for students. "

                                          THEN and NOW

The rebirth of Charles James works of ART, should be a reminder to all struggling artists, who may feel their works are not understood during their lifetime. 

James has beat the test of time, and he is in many ways reborn through the creations he left behind. Still fresh, admired, inspiring, innovative, and now appreciated.

What to Expect from MET Gala 2014!

The wait is over, the annual Met Gala has arrived! 

At this very second the final touches are being placed, and thousands of worker's from security, florists, chefs, decorators are all scrambling around the Metroplitan Museum, orchestrating perfection for tomorrow nights Met Gala. 

The who's who of fashion, actors, rocktars and socialites will all gather once again for a night of fundraising, fashion and Art.It is widely regarded as one of the most exclusive social events in New York and one of the biggest fundraising nights of the city with a reported nine million dollars raised in 2013.

Here is your exclusive access pass on everything regarding "Met Gala 2014"

                                         The THEME

Theme: CHARLES JAMES Beyond Fashion

 Every year the Met Gala has a theme. This year Charles James has been chosen as the celebrated designer. You maybe asking yourself, Charles who? He is actually a quiet giant of fashion from the ‘30s to the ‘70s with the nickname the ‘Great American Couturier’. London-born designer, worked in Paris and finally settled in New York City where he dressed Millicent Rogers and Babe Paley. Christian Dior and Cristobal Balenciaga were amongst some of his admirers. Way ahead of his time, his designs were surprisingly  sculptural and architectural.

   

                                         The  DECOR

Grand Staircase:

Nothing screams "Grand Ball" quite like the entrance at the Met. The grand staircase is fit for a fairytale and nothing will be overlooked. Expect glamorous lighting, flowers, security, and herds of photographers.

FLowers, flowers, and more flowers!

Whether it be the Vienna Ball, or the Oscars, no Gala is complete without the extravagant usage of fresh flowers! This year will be no different. Expect elegant displays of old Hollywood floral creations!

Dinner: Expect romantic low candle lighting, and classic elegantly table decor that correspond with the old hollywood theme. 

                                 The DRESSCODE:

The dress code was announced over a year ago as white tie, and I am thrilled! A far cry from last years Punk Chaos theme, this is the year of breath taking beauty!  I've been excited about this celebration of old Hollywood Glamour all year, and in my head I imagine, "My Fair Lady" as the face of this year's event.  Elegant, glamorous, and regal, it is my hope all attendees will do this dress code justice.

However, not everyone is excited by this theme, and the men seem to be the most disappointed by these rather "restricted" dress code. Mark Jacobs recently expressed to Vogue,

"I mean it's not as exciting as wearing a lace dress and boxer shorts. But that was only for Miuccia Prada," Jacobs said, referring to the famous Comme des Garcons ensemble he wore to the 2012 bash when the dress code was "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations".

When asked about what he plans to wear he stated it would be "much more straightforward".

"I think it will be black with white tie, as the dress code asks for. I'll be wearing Saint Laurent."

He stated to The Cut, that he will be escorting actress Jessica Lange tomorrow night.

                             The DESIGNER and the MUSE

The Met is unique in the sense that often times you see famous designers escorting their choice of actors, actresses, or entertainers. It is a night of true collaboration between the designer and their Muses, which they dress in head to toe galore. It is a true mixing of worlds, all in a combining effort for Art itself.

                                PRINCESS BALL GOWNS

What better event to dress like a princess? I don't know about you, but this is just my personal taste, and style.  Here are two of my favorites from Met Gala Past. 

                  FASHION RISK TAKER

Last year Sarah Jessica Parker pushing the fashion envelope, but doing it to perfection.

Having been the year of "Punk Chaos", the head to toe look was utter perfection, and it is the hope of all fashion press that this year will also hold those amazing risk takers that somehow get it right.

   

                                      FASHION: OH NO!

Unfortunately, every year there will be those select few that are overly "ambitious" and completely miss the mark. However, in many ways, these fashion flops are also rather interesting, after all, how boring would it be if everyone looked great?

                                The "DRESS FLUFFER"

In true "Queen" status, it is a well known fact that if you have a dress with a train, you need a little "helper". Like little magic Christmas elfs they run around fluffing out the dresses of celebrities taking photos or going up those glorious stairs. Beyonce's fluffer even had a sharp matching outfit to her gown.

                                    CHARITY For the ARTS

This spectacular yearly event has been so successfully it has fundraised nearly $125 million within the past 15 years of having Anna Wintour as trustee. The Costume Institute has since renamed itself to "Anna Wintour Costume Center", as gratitude for her exceptional work. Known to be the Oscars of fashion, the Met Gala, is truly a night of celebration and respect towards the value of the ARTS in all forms.

3 Reasons Anne Wintour Should Regret KIMYE Cover

                          

Unless you live under a rock, you have heard about the public outrage over Kim Kardashian and Kanye West cover debut on Vogue. Anne Wintour has publicly stated, “As for the cover, my opinion is that it is both charming and touching, and it was, I should add, entirely our idea to do it; you may have read that Kanye begged me to put his fiancee on Vogue‘s cover. He did nothing of the sort. The gossip might make better reading, but the simple fact of the matter is that it isn’t true.”

We all know, Anne Wintour is a shrewd business woman and the Kardashian/Kanye cover was strategically all about business. After all, the couples' combined social media power is around 30 million where as Vogue's number hits around 3.6 million. Wintour, is more than aware Kardashian is not a fit for the brands label, but in many ways, sold her fashion soul, in pursuit to sell more magazines. 

3 Reasons Anne Wintour should have thought twice about KIMYE cover.

1.)The backlash

The public is outraged. Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar led the charge with a tweet that read “Well……I guess I’m canceling my Vogue subscription. Who is with me???” Gellar’s call for a boycott has been retweeted over 8,000 times and favorited by more than 11,000 people. Vogue’s Facebook page has been flooded with angry messages  and cries of disappointment. One comment reading, “I’m done with Vogue. Subscription cancelled sick to death of Kanye and Kim used to be high fashion, your standards have been highly compromised!!!!!!”

2.)Vogue As a Brand

Vogue is perhaps one of the few if not the only fashion magazines left, that represent high fashion as an art form. With genius photographer Annie Leibovitz as their right hand,  month after month, the readers of this esteemed magazine have been left awed by the beautiful creations on the pages of Vogue. The keyword is ART, and Vogue has been respected for their taste, choices, and expression of  fashion as a brand of quality.

The placement  of Kim on the cover cheapens their principles simply because she is an icon for "popularity". She has been documented on her own reality show, letting her now fiance, Kanye, completely remodel her image. He basically dresses her like a doll, and directs her entire wardrobe, buying her new ones that he believes suitable. Yes, they represent current pop culture, but whether it is a "positive" representation, I would have to plead the 5 th. The day fashion is lead and inspired by whoever has the most twitter followers is a sad and funny day indeed.

3. The death of Vogue?

Of course, despite all the outrage, this will not be the end of Vogue, nor Anne Wintour. In fact, it might have even boosted their sales. The fear lies, in the direction Wintour plans on taking this magazine. 

Wintour wrote, "Part of the pleasure of editing Vogue, one that lies in a long tradition of this magazine, is being able to feature those who define the culture at any given moment, who stir things up, whose presence in the world shapes the way it looks and influences the way we see it. I think we can all agree on the fact that that role is currently being played by Kim and Kanye to a T."

Although, Wintour writes beautifully, it is basically applauding what is popular, simply for being popular. If she honestly believes Kardashian and Kanye define our culture at the given moment, and are the biggest influencers of our time, we are seriously a pathetic species. 

For the sake of fashion, it is my hope Anne Wintour regains her Fashion Soul and remembers the esteem and respect attached to VOGUE. 

There will always come a point, where you will be tempted to gain power and numbers but, none of that should ever outweigh the value of ART and the need for it in our society. 

Why we love VOGUE: