The New York Times has a review of the Fashion in Colors exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York City, which consists of selections from the Kyoto Costume Institute collection. If anyone goes, let us know how it is. Sob.
Los Angeles Report
I spent the past weekend in LA, where I got to see the Star Wars costume exhibit at FIDM. It was quite impressive, and I noticed garments and details I hadn’t seen on the screen. The best part were the little kids who were correcting their mothers (ie Mom: “That’s the costume Padme wears when she’s pregnant with a baby!” Little girl: “TWO babies, Mom!”). The Emperor wears an awful lot of leg-o-mutton sleeves, I gotta say. I think my favorites were Queen Apailana of Naboo and Amidala’s Senate gown — and I would just like to share my feeling that pearls are not comfortable to sleep in.
I also, of course, went fabric shopping — and bought nothing! Granted, I had a very specific list of things I was looking for (eg black wool for cheaper than I could get online). I was specifically hoping to price silk duchesse satin, but was disappointed not to find ANY (except for a few of the new dupioni satins coming out — what’s up with that? Yes I want weird little slubs in my satin!). I did see some great striped silk taffetas that would be perfect for 18th c., and even more when I went to the Silk Trading Co. outlet (SMASHING striped silk taffetas for $15/yard, plus a $40 yard red silk damask that was a dead ringer for this portrait and totally out of my price range). But as I have fabric for two 18th c. projects already in my stash, and I’m only planning to accomplish one of those this year, it seemed silly to buy fabric just to buy fabric. So I’m feeling a bit thwarted in the fabric arena.
Fashion in Film Redux
Remember a while back when I linked to the images of the Fashion in Film exhibit but the link didn’t work? Okay, maybe you don’t, but the important point is that they’re back at a new site: Fashion in Film: Period Costumes from the Screen. Yay!
For SF Bay Area People
If you’re interested in Art Deco or Japanese fashion, you’ll want to check out two exhibits at the UC Berkeley Art Museum: Meiji a la Mode: A Modernizing Japan, 1868–1912 (Aug. 24 2005 – Dec. 23 2005) and Taisho Chic: Japanese Modernity, Nostalgia, and Deco (Sept. 14 2005 – Dec. 23 2005). Taisho Chic has a book that’s been out for a few months. I leafed through it a while back and it was really gorgeous; I think this exhibition should be great.
Normally I Don’t Go in for This Kind of Thing
But hey, why not! The FIDM online shop is selling advance copies of the Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars book. It will only be available via FIDM from 9/12-24 (after which you can buy it elsewhere). I personally will be ordering the normal edition, but if you’ve got some money to burn and you want a “Wookiee belt-buckle cast replica” and “Fabric swatches cut from the same bolts as the actual costume material that was used for Darth Vader’s cape” then you should think about ponying up $295 for the limited edition. More info on the exhibition (opens 9/12) will be coming soon on the exhibition website.