Fairy Tale Fashion at FIT

Rodarte spring 2007: Beauty and the Beast

Louboutin fall 2011: Beauty and the Beast 

Last week I got a chance to see the Fairy Tale Fashion exhibit at the Museum at FIT (it is closing very soon, April 16th). I heard about the exhibit not long ago and it sounded so cool so I had to go before it closed! Plus, their whole museum is free of charge! 

The exhibit showcases items that were directly inspired by fairytales or that exhibit the influence of fairytales and their motifs on fashion designers. Many fairytales use fashion as a way define or to transform their characters: think Cinderella and the glass slippers, red hooded capes ala Little Red Riding Hood, or the Mad Hatter's pocket watch. Each section of the museum was dedicated to a different fairytale and the designs that correlate with that story. 

Some of my favorite pieces from the show included this mirrored dress by Tom Ford (spring 2014). This piece was included in the show since mirrors are a commonly used motif in fairytales as a representation of vanity. The entire dress is created from bits of glass and mirror fitted together into this stunning dress. 

This gown by Jean Louis Sabaji (spring 2013) was in the mermaid section, calling to mind the end of the original Little Mermaid story where she turns to sea foam when she learns that mer-folk do not have immortal souls. The billowing grey and white train is an ethereal representation of sea foam on stormy waters. 

A charred-looking dress (by Giles Deacon) represents Cinderella in her working clothes as she cleaned her step mother's fireplaces. The singed effect on this dress is stunning in its own way while calling to mind the hard and dirty work that Cinderella did for her family. Clothing is particularly important in Cinderella's story since her character entirely transforms with a switch of dresses before she goes to the ball.

This gorgeous flowing gown by Dolce and Gabana (2012) represents Snow White and Rose Red with the print of roses for the second sister on a black and white dress of the first sister's colors. 

This display by Stacy Bendet of Alice and Olivia (fall 2014) was inspired by the tale of Snow White and was shown on a model lying in a glass coffin. The museum positioned an ominous black cloak standing over the coffin, while the dress inside is made in one of Snow White's colors, black (the others being red and white which appear in the coffin's frame and the model's pillow).

If you want a chance to see this exhibit for yourself, hurry because it closes after April 16th! But either way, I definitely recommend checking out whatever is showing at the Museum at FIT--all of their exhibits seem so interesting and now that I know it is free to go I have a feeling I will be stopping back frequently. They also currently have an exhibit on denim that I want to go back and check out when I have more time!

Dolce and Gabana fall 2014, Louis Feraud circa 1989, Manish Arora: Alice in Wonderland

Louboutin: The Wizard of Oz

Noritaka Tatehana 2010: The Wizard of Oz

Alexander McQueen 2008: The Snow Queen

Dolce and Gabana fall 2014, Comme des Garcons spring 2015: Little Red Riding Hood

Mary Katrantzou fall 2012, Giles spring 2015: Beauty and the Beast

Armani Prive fall 2007, Holly Fowler 2014 (hand painted!): The Fairies

xoxo CC