This week I spent a few hours at The Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the new show at the Costume Institute: Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garçons, Art of the In-Between.
Let's put the emphasis on ART here because as clothes, the garments in the exhibit are virtually unwearable. That is the modus operandi of Ms. Kawakubo, the famously reclusive and mysterious madame of the far out.
Comme des Garçons (like boys) is Ms, Kawakubo's retail conduit to reality. At her stores around the world, clothes that people can purchase and wear, including tee-shirts with the Comme des Garçons logo, are for sale. In New York City, we have Dover Street Market, her emporium in an old bank on Lexington Avenue.
Meanwhile, she is holed up in an atelier in Paris or Tokyo conceptualizing themes like Then/Now, High/Low and Absence/Presence, like a high priestess of Clothes As Art, on the order of the artist Louise Bourgeois who was a high priestess of Art as Art.
Rei Kawakubo = Art + Commerce = Avant-Garde.
I favor the red dresses because I like color.
This one has a plastic bodice
and bubble wrap hair.
Intense bondage
and strange protuberances.
and strange protuberances.
A flat skirt in felt.
Gaga for Gingham.
The exhibit installation is stunning.
All white with curved shapes.
The installation reminds me of the Guggenheim Museum.
The dance of the Sugar-Plum Tailors.
Stark black lines on white tulle.
I like the large red circle on the skirt.
The ballet's costume designer
used up all the red tulle on the skirt.
The bodice is a composition
from the rag bag.
Dress meets coat flattened
by steamroller.
The black against the white walls
is so effective. The sculptures on the heads
are a show stopper.
The silhouette is reminiscent of
a 19th century lady leaving
the Bon Marche with her shop-lifted
booty hidden in her booty.
After the Met, I walked for blocks and blocks
down Madison Avenue, finally hailing
a cab to take me to 58th Street near Second Avenue.
My destination was Bon Vivant,
a cafe and shop selling
petit fours, coffee, tea and pastries.
I met the lovely owner, Maya Hormis, who explained that
the exquisite cakes are made with buttercream and
marzipan fillings and covered with a fondant icing.
This was my perfect treat on a Wednesday
afternoon, as I sat by the window gazing out
on a sun- dappled New York Street.
The petit four was scrumptious,
the Macchiato coffee was served in a perfectly sized cup.
The petit cakes may be ordered here.
À Bientôt!
by steamroller.
is so effective. The sculptures on the heads
are a show stopper.
a 19th century lady leaving
the Bon Marche with her shop-lifted
booty hidden in her booty.
down Madison Avenue, finally hailing
a cab to take me to 58th Street near Second Avenue.
a cafe and shop selling
petit fours, coffee, tea and pastries.
the exquisite cakes are made with buttercream and
marzipan fillings and covered with a fondant icing.
afternoon, as I sat by the window gazing out
on a sun- dappled New York Street.
The petit four was scrumptious,
the Macchiato coffee was served in a perfectly sized cup.
The petit cakes may be ordered here.
À Bientôt!
Great post, had not see many of these garments before and their settings. Dessert was lovely.
ReplyDeleteYour right about some of these garments being art. Love the post.
ReplyDeleteA delicious post in every way, Carol, thank you. xx
ReplyDeleteNice and beautiful shots great job.
ReplyDelete