“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
Still haven’t subscribed to Vogue on YouTube? ►► http://bit.ly/vogueyoutubesub
Get the best of Vogue delivered right in your inbox ►► https://bit.ly/3xAZyQg
Subscribe to the magazine ►► http://vogue.com/subscribe_yt
Download the Vogue App ►► https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vogue-runway-more/id289380413
Check out ‘The Run-Through with Vogue’ podcast ►► https://swap.fm/l/vogue-trt-youtube
Vogue YouTube Channels:
British Vogue: https://www.youtube.com/@britishvogue
Vogue Taiwan: https://www.youtube.com/@voguetvtaiwan
Vogue France: https://www.youtube.com/@VogueFrance
Vogue India: https://www.youtube.com/@VogueIndia
Vogue Japan: https://www.youtube.com/@VogueJapan
Vogue México y Latinoamérica: https://www.youtube.com/@VogueMexicoyLatinoamerica
Vogue Germany: https://www.youtube.com/@VogueGermany
Vogue Italia: https://www.youtube.com/@VogueItalia
Vogue Spain: https://www.youtube.com/@VogueSpain
ABOUT VOGUE
Vogue is the authority on fashion news, culture trends, beauty coverage, videos, celebrity style, and fashion week updates.
Gabby Solarte
September 12, 2023 at 11:26 am
They are all so stunning
Alqua Publishing Group
September 12, 2023 at 11:29 am
This is long overdue…
The Honored One
September 12, 2023 at 11:33 am
Ooh I believe I can fly! Ooh I believe I can touch the skyyy!
MrToysoldier2012
September 12, 2023 at 11:37 am
Candice always
Maria Ranjan
September 12, 2023 at 11:38 am
Taylor hill ❤
Guilherme Júnior
September 12, 2023 at 11:42 am
Candice is amazing ????
ilmelangolo
September 12, 2023 at 11:52 am
…bei tempi quando non c’erano le chiattone…
Ari Viloria
September 12, 2023 at 11:56 am
Me falta mi Barbara Palvin ????
Selwyn Storer
September 12, 2023 at 12:01 pm
WOW! VS finally getting it right after like 10 years, don’t feel you need to disregard your past, this is an amazing integration, unforced, uncomplicated. Well done, super excited whats to come!
Bella Martino
September 12, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Nice idea with the wings minus the casting. The casting can’t touch the iconic casts. ???? Candice is only saving Grace.
Marelize Arries
September 12, 2023 at 12:11 pm
O im so in love with the wings they look a beutiful
Benjamin Santiago
September 12, 2023 at 12:15 pm
Muchas gracias por este regalo, lo hemos esperado por mucho tiempo. La fusión del pasado con el presente es espectacular.
tiffany
September 12, 2023 at 12:18 pm
candice adriana lily the angels the girls <3
Covert B
September 12, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Too many donuts for several
Sed The Ted
September 12, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Im actually sooooo exciteddddd for this new tourrrr ???????????????? and some of these wings are STUNNING! The Design Team for the Wings at VS NEVER DISAPPOINT
Marfa.H
September 12, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Even though some of these are from the archive all of them are lovely ❤
Miadaskate
September 12, 2023 at 12:37 pm
Some of these girls do not belong.
Kevin Perello
September 12, 2023 at 12:44 pm
I saw the Queen Candice Swanepoel, i click! ❤️????
Sakura
September 12, 2023 at 12:50 pm
Where is sora choi?
nana ba
September 12, 2023 at 12:53 pm
There are some angels who can’t fly.
Serena b
September 12, 2023 at 1:07 pm
I’m glad to see some angels back on the runway, but some woman just don’t fit the purposes. Many models work hard to get the perfect body, but some still enjoy pizzas and sugar they still get spot on the runway?
Bran J
September 12, 2023 at 1:13 pm
What’s the name of this song ????
Abraham Durán Beltrán Colombiano de la paz Bogotá
September 12, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Liga????????2023 liga????????2023 de la paz
lana xoxo
September 12, 2023 at 1:16 pm
ISTG I SCREAMEDDDDD
Adolfo Cruz
September 12, 2023 at 1:59 pm
????
Benjamin Santiago
September 12, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Song: Suki Waterhouse – Moves ????
Diego Ahumada
September 12, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Candice y Emily total queens ❤️❤️❤️