The Met Costume Institute posted this preview of “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” where we see this circa 1961 Marguery Bolhagen ball gown displayed in the circa 1850 rococo revival period room — and photographed by Dario Calmese.
I am incredibly excited for this second installation of the America-themed exhibition, because collaborations with other galleries — especially the Met’s period rooms — are truly one of my favorite things the Costume Institute has the opportunity to do with its exhibitions.
Another example of this was the 2004 exhibition Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the Eighteenth Century. And what I love about it is how the 18th century clothing is truly brought to life by not only the interesting and risqué ways the mannequins interact, but the fact that it truly is the furniture and surroundings of the room that enables this feeling of life and intimacy
The 2006 Anglomania exhibition is another example, which I feel really pushed the envelope. In graduate school, when I told my historic interiors professor that this exhibition had punk mannequins actually standing on accessioned tables she was shocked — and as long as the pieces were deemed safe, I really feel like this anachronistic approach to displaying fashion in the period rooms was really creative and inspiring.
Sadly I didn’t get to see either of those exhibitions but I thoroughly enjoy the catalogs which are both freely available on Google Books!