“Fashion is very much an art form not in spite of the body, but because of it,” says Andrew Bolton, OBE, curator in charge of the Costume Institute. And this year’s exhibition, “Costume Art,” seeks not just to address this tantalizingly complex issue, but to explore it in all its many facets. The central thesis is as simple as it is thrilling: pair existing artworks with corresponding garments or accessories and let your synapses fire. The very layout of the show—broken into sections that move from Biblical nudity to the au courant idea of body diversity to the ways in which we’ve long used clothes not merely to adorn but to subvert and distort the body—indicates just how richly drawn this subject is and why it’s mesmerized artists since time immemorial.
Sinéad Burke, CEO of Tilting the Lens, emphasizes how this exhibit highlights bodies that have traditionally been overlooked, and as someone with a physical disability, she is among those featured. Her body has been memorialized in the exhibition as a custom mannequin, alongside model and musician Aariana Rose Philip, transforming their presence into a lasting part of the narrative around representation, fashion, and identity.
Additionally, this exhibition will be the first in the costume department’s new home, the Conde M. Nast Galleries. Once relegated to a modest 4,500-square-foot space in the museum’s basement, the department will now take flight in a grand, 12,000-square-foot display room on the ground floor, just off the central Great Hall. It is, says Max Hollein, the museum’s director, a symbol of how important clothing has become to The Met’s mission in exploring the many facets of art in the modern age. “We collect paintings, sculptures, textiles, arms and armor, but especially all the fashion,” he says. “And we want to make sure that it’s understood that fashion is a fantastic form of art.”
Featuring testimonials from Misty Copeland, Alex Consani, Gwendoline Christie, Aimee Mullins, Sinéad Burke, Aariana Rose Philip and more.
Director: Nina Ljeti
Directors of Photography: Michael Lopez, Henry Gill
Editor: Evan Allan
Senior Producer: Bety Dereje
Producer: Rashida Josiah
Associate Producers: Anisa Kennar, Justine Ramirez, Lea Donenberg
Camera Operator: Chanthila Phaophanit
Assistant Camera: Kahdeem Prosper Jefferson, Gordan Wong
Gaffers: Billy Voermann, Mary Kalecinska
Swing: Alex Frischman
Audio: Mariya Chulichkova, Joanna Hunt
Set Designers: Ilana Portney, Dana Keren
Production Assistants: Quinton Johnson, Myles Haywood
Runners: Edie Chesters, Rachel Ademidun
Groomer for Andrew Bolton: Shin Arima
Makeup Artist for Sinéad Burke and Alex Consani: Ai Yokomizo
Hairstylist for Sinéad Burke and Alex Consani: Sonny Molina
Makeup Artist for Misty Copeland: Victor Henao
Hairstylist for Misty Copeland: Nai’vasha Grace
Makeup Artist for Aariana Philip: Meadow Soleil Cloud
Makeup Artist for Gwendoline Christie: Daniel Kolaric
Hairstylist for Gwendoline Christie: Joe Kelly
Hair & Makeup Artist for Aimee Mullins: Stèfan Jemeel
Production Coordinator: Tanía Jones
Production Manager: Kristen Helmick
Senior Production Manager: Venita Singh-Warner
Line Producer: Natasha Soto-Albors
Assistant Editors: Andy Morell, Fynn Lithgow
Senior Motion Graphics Designer: Samuel Fuller
Post Production Coordinator: Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Kameron Key
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Entertainment Director: Sergio Kletnoy
Global Talent Casting Directors: Ignacio Murillo, Morgan Senesi
Executive Producer: Rahel Gebreyes
Senior Director, Digital Video: Romy van den Broeke
Senior Director, Programming: Linda Gittleson
VP, Video Programming: Thespena Guatieri
Florist: London Blooming Haus
Photography By Paul Westlake
Images Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Special Thanks: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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@SavannahNewcomb-ft9sj
March 18, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Yasss
@marxtakes
March 18, 2025 at 12:02 pm
Shakespeare in Love winning BP over Saving Private Ryan was so unfortunate. What an absolute tragedy
@batgurrl
March 18, 2025 at 12:51 pm
The Academy Awards cannot be taken seriously anymore. Especially now nominating 10 movies for best picture, most of which ‘your average person’ never heard of.
Her win for best actress I did not have any problem with though.
@Agent-wn7le
March 18, 2025 at 12:07 pm
She’s so pretty
@Agent-wn7le
March 18, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Her mom is a actor to!
@MrJeepmarine
March 18, 2025 at 1:16 pm
*Too
@DaringDasher
March 18, 2025 at 12:13 pm
She remembers!
@Agent-wn7le
March 18, 2025 at 12:15 pm
How dare you not talk about avengers or seven?
@batgurrl
March 18, 2025 at 12:20 pm
That’s tragic and she NEVER talks about it. What on earth do you want to hear her say about it? Really
@darkangel8068
March 18, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Overrated movie star
@dolphinsgirl253
March 18, 2025 at 12:16 pm
She looks more and more like her beautiful mom every year…
@batgurrl
March 18, 2025 at 12:18 pm
The Royal Tannenbaums is Wes Anderson’s very best film imho
@stable-shadow
March 18, 2025 at 1:51 pm
No, the life aquatic with Steve Zissou….. Esteban and Jaguar Sharks….. 🕊️
@UnderdogPlays_
March 18, 2025 at 12:20 pm
She is a famous scammer Goop is snake Oil
@TheLazyLabrador
March 18, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Surprised she didn’t plug her kitty kat pearls.
@PiginaCage
March 18, 2025 at 12:32 pm
she’s so iconic
@Wolfer1985
March 18, 2025 at 12:36 pm
How in the world you didn’t include EMMA or SE7EN, these should had been include for sure…
@linwini2393
March 18, 2025 at 1:10 pm
that one royal tenenbaums scene is pure movie magic, i get chills just thinking about it
@ethanaleman
March 18, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Great movie and a great actress
@Cyberpunk_gf
March 18, 2025 at 1:35 pm
im tired of seeing this out of touch nepo baby everywhere
@theeseanadair
March 18, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Have you ever had an original thought in your life?
@josepha133
March 18, 2025 at 3:40 pm
You were free to not click on this video mate
@chelseacanales8763
March 18, 2025 at 1:46 pm
What the heck did Shakespeare in Love win for Best Picture over Life is Beautiful or Saving Private Ryan? Shakespeare in Love is the second most BORING movie ever
@ScentedCandles14a
March 18, 2025 at 2:00 pm
She is so elegant and beautiful, it’s mesmerising. Also a complete fruitcake. Exactly my type. Call me, Gwyneth!
@abhiramkraj991
March 18, 2025 at 2:13 pm
how could they not include se7en
@ElenasDad
March 18, 2025 at 2:39 pm
The Talented Mr. Ripley hive tap in
@jumpingbee4717
March 18, 2025 at 2:46 pm
That’s some wonky facelift
@jessenathan9346
March 18, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Ah yes, back when Glee was still tolerable.