Fabulous Fashion: Philadelphia Museum of Art

Beginning in October 2018, the Philadelphia Museum of Art's special exhibit has been "Fabulous Fashion: From Diors New Look to Now." It features couture fashion from the 1950s - now, which means you're guaranteed to see some epic pieces. I've been excited about this exhibit ever since they announced it at the end of last summer and this weekend, the last full weekend of the exhibit, I finally had the opportunity to see it.

It. Was. Amazing.

I've always loved fashion. There was a period in my life where I collected every Vogue and Nylon Magazine I could lay my hands on; I followed the seasonal fashion week launches religiously and even attended Pittsburgh fashion shows with my brand-spankin'-new Canon in hand, convinced I would become a true fashion blogger someday. I still love fashion and I event try to make a few pieces here and there with my wonderfully talented aunt (who taught me everything I know about sewing!), but I think life and responsibilities beat me down enough in my college years I gave up on the fashion dream, resigned to keeping it in the dream realm.

That being said, I definitely haven't given up on having fashion be a part of my life (working for a major fashion magazine may or may not be a closet dream job)! And that is why I was so excited about seeing the fashion exhibit at the PMA. It rekindled my hunger for creating and studying and admiring the art that is beautiful clothing.

This exhibit wasn't extensive, and it was't just Dior. In fact, I was surprised at how many designers featured in the gallery were Philadelphians- I'm assuming that had to do somewhat with Philadelphia University's textiles programs, and the robustness of Philadelphia's Fabric Row during that period (though I will be the first to say I am woefully under-educated on Philadelphia's fashion history). The gowns and ensembles on display were mesmerizing - a beautiful mix of patterns and shapes, softness and hard lines, metallic glitz and gentle, hand painted hues. It was amazing looking at pieces made by John Galliano, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and Oscar de la Renta close enough to see the stitching. My heart may have fluttered just a little.

The shapes of the dresses were wonderful; a goldenrod yellow silk evening dress and cape designed by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior was one of my favorites, as well as the most wonderful, yellow and cream dress and capelet designed by Pierre Cardin in 1983. I definitely have a thing for yellow, but the dresses of this exhibit had such wonderful shapes to them. They were all very much feminine, but never shied away from abstract shapes and impractical materials.

Another element I noticed (and loved) was the use of meticulous bead-work and sequins. A 1970 gown by Norman Norell had thousands of little metallic sequins and beads hand-sewn onto a deceivingly simple looking column dress, finished with a rose-gold sash; and a fantastic little green skirt by Oscar de la Renta covered in beads and sequins, ending in the most wonderful embroidered leaves. The detail and hours that were put into each of these pieces was jaw-dropping, and I couldn't help but feel inspired to start working on a new project of my own.

If you missed the show, hopefully there will be more fashion exhibits in the PMA's future! Otherwise, you can join me on my inevitable trip to NYC in the next year for the MET's Notes on Fashion exhibit, or one of my many meanders down what's left of Philly's fashion row in search of fabrics. Did you see the exhibit yourself? I'd love to hear what you thought of it!