On one of my many visits to this favorite city of mine, a good friend of mine sent me off to my first fashion exhibit at The Met, Manus x Machina. She encourages my love of design. Her take on fashion and art inspires me. She is knowledgeable about both, and appreciates both equally. And since that incredible experience, I waited for the next installation with bated breath.
I have always loved to sew. And I am especially intrigued by the attention to detail and craftsmanship that goes into beautiful tailoring. Through the years, friends and family members have exposed me to museums around the world.
But through fashion exhibits, I have grown to love art even more. I will now go to great lengths to see an exhibition. And this special exhibit at The Met could not have been a better place to see both passions come together: art and fashion.
The beauty is not only in the detail, but the sheer talent that is the detail. While I could see myself owning most of these dresses, it would not be to wear them, but to admire the art. The tulle, beadwork, satin and hand-sewn flowers, feather finishes, sequins and a very unique use of grosgrain ribbon were unbelievable. I spent hours going back and forth just staring at the detail.
The Detail Was Incredible
But when I arrived into the part of the exhibit that highlights how couture is tailored, I wanted to stay for days. In fact, seeing how these beautiful pieces were constructed and deconstructed was what inspired me to pick up sewing again after many years.
Throughout this exhibit, I got lost in the process that led to the finished result. Seeing the level of detail on each dress and admiring the process involved in tailoring the pieces was an art form to me.
What I had missed in my years away from the sewing machine was determining how a piece would take shape as I created it without a pattern, and only an idea.
Manus x Machina? That is the Question.
Want to learn more about the exhibit?
Click Here: Manus × Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
what do you think?