The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) is dedicated to the ladies of fashion. This year’s Costume Institute fall exhibition, “Women Dressing Women,” is dedicated to the artistic legacy of women designers and women-run fashion houses, the New York-based museum said Thursday.
With around 80 objects by more than 70 designers housed in the museum’s archive to date, the exhibition pays tribute to the often-overlooked creativity and legacy of designers, and sheds light on the history of women-led fashion houses from the 20th century to to the present.
The exhibition explores four key concepts – anonymity, visibility, agency and absence/omission. The aim is to show how the industry has served as a vehicle for promoting women’s social, financial and creative autonomy, the release said.
The focus is not only on celebrated and well-known fashion designers such as Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Comme des Garçons Rei Kawakubo, Gabriela Hearst or Miuccia Prada, but also historical designers such as Madeleine Vionnet and Claire McCardell as well as young creative people, including Simone Rocha and Marine Serre .
“Women have been instrumental in the success of the Costume Institute from its inception – its founding members include several inspiring women – and the department remains dedicated to recognizing the artistic, technical and social achievements of women,” said Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge, The Costume Institute.
The “Women Dressing Women” exhibition runs from December 7th to March 3rd, 2024 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.