“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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Zoe
February 26, 2021 at 5:00 pm
Hii im first
potatomato :p
February 26, 2021 at 5:01 pm
My most favorite writer: any doctor. They’re like ‘buy this!’ Kfnxjsjjshgndkzkajdjdkxndjajajfhjdjdhchdj
Руслан Бекмамбет
February 26, 2021 at 5:03 pm
hypocrite
LeBeautiful
February 26, 2021 at 5:05 pm
Wil we ever see another Mars Blackmon appearance, Spike? ????????
Ben Henderson
February 26, 2021 at 5:05 pm
Spike’s prolly happy for Randles this season
Brumfeldo
February 26, 2021 at 5:07 pm
So apparently Spike Lee is going to live until he’s a hundred and fifty years old waiting for the Knicks to win the championship before he passes.
GRASSFED CHARLIE
February 26, 2021 at 5:28 pm
This man has been ROBBED of so much.
f my name
February 26, 2021 at 5:29 pm
His outfit is so great. I canNOT
Alex Gordon
February 26, 2021 at 5:32 pm
I love that vanity fair still does this
Reminds me of Hitch every time I see it, for some reason.
Travis Jordan
February 26, 2021 at 5:48 pm
Is it me, or does he seem kinda sedated?
Cooper Carr
February 26, 2021 at 6:17 pm
Vanity fair is just unleashing a barrage of proust questionnaire videos on us… and I like it
gardensofthegods
February 26, 2021 at 7:41 pm
So much more dignified sitting down , having a conversation than that 73 Questions which makes you feel like you’re getting the bum’s rush out the door .
Cooper Carr
February 26, 2021 at 6:30 pm
The Jackie Robinson segment was beautiful. Thanks to Spike for sharing
Senzo Blose
February 26, 2021 at 6:39 pm
Mr Lee is a legend????????????????????♂️????????♂️
madi W
February 26, 2021 at 6:42 pm
spike is actually a really great name. love this iconic name
WillsDuffy
February 26, 2021 at 7:06 pm
I had to switch off the questions and music way too creepy.
Amaree Sanchez
February 26, 2021 at 7:45 pm
i looove this
Amaree Sanchez
February 26, 2021 at 7:45 pm
Yara Shahidi please!
Guido Anselmi
February 26, 2021 at 7:47 pm
Dang man, the segment about Jackie Robinson….
Powerful.
gardensofthegods
February 26, 2021 at 7:49 pm
Spike Lee needs to make that Jackie Robinson film even if he has to rewrite the script . Do the right thing and just do it … next year is the 50th anniversary of his death .
Doesn’t it matter if Denzel Washington is too old because there are plenty of talented people out there who actually look more like the legend . Would be a wonderful gift for Mrs. Robinson while she’s still alive .