“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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@ashantihernandez__
October 24, 2025 at 12:01 pm
As someone who wants to be a costume designer thank you so much for this video!!
@greyyuh-wc6cn
October 24, 2025 at 12:04 pm
her dedication to her craft is truly inspiring 🥺
@EduardoFerreira-cd6fy
October 24, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Vogue… this is COLLEEN ATWOOD… this woman has won 4 OSCARS.
Please use her actual name in the title instead of “Wednesday costume designer” that just feels disrespectful
@NATEYWEB
October 24, 2025 at 12:25 pm
SERIOUSLY. WTF Vogue…
@thestrangeking21
October 24, 2025 at 3:29 pm
thank you…
@suzymentzos1
October 24, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Love this video ❤ thank you
@thedyingdetective
October 24, 2025 at 12:16 pm
i loveeee the costumes! she’s so skilled.
@thedyingdetective
October 24, 2025 at 12:21 pm
she’s had quite the career!!!
@NATEYWEB
October 24, 2025 at 12:24 pm
WOW! She is truly the architect of THE MOST ICONIC costumes of all time.
@MAXKIDDO8888
October 24, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Since we’re opening up this series to costume designers. I would love to see Patricia Field, Mona May, Sandy Powell, or Mandi Line do a video like this.
@RafiqiFamily
October 24, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Please thinking about aseliem
@seashellsx
October 24, 2025 at 12:38 pm
she’s so talented!!
@kaylandry3142
October 24, 2025 at 12:50 pm
One of the best. Thank you.
@Ariele-c1i
October 24, 2025 at 12:55 pm
This lady is so wise, a genius!👏👏👏 Fortunately it has been just 1 movie with no many clothes! 😅
@DallinPilling
October 24, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Super dope!
@felixdbestest
October 24, 2025 at 1:19 pm
If this is what vogue world Hollywood is then I am so interested
@champychandler
October 24, 2025 at 1:20 pm
Come on, Wednesday it´s not even the most impressive thing COLLEEN ATWOOD have done. Dont title the video ‘Wednesday’ Costume Designer”… Show some respect.
@RachMonPhoebs
October 24, 2025 at 1:24 pm
A true artist of our time!!!
@Anna9199
October 24, 2025 at 1:38 pm
She is so talented
@jvelas
October 24, 2025 at 1:38 pm
incredible
@Noodles-j8l
October 24, 2025 at 1:55 pm
Legend
@EM-fs8nb
October 24, 2025 at 2:06 pm
Yesss please have more of these!
@RaulSalazar-c6y
October 24, 2025 at 2:27 pm
No one cares loser
@SonerBoyraz
October 24, 2025 at 3:17 pm
I wanna be her.
@Natashaz48
October 24, 2025 at 3:23 pm
An icon and a true master.
@daisy4645
October 24, 2025 at 3:27 pm
The 21st century Edith Head. An exceptional talent