When it comes to the development of fashion history, it is easy to list the design changes in women’s clothing. However, when it comes to men’s fashion, people often wonder, “Aren’t men’s clothes just a few styles?” In fact, men’s fashion has evolved over many centuries and continues to show endless possibilities.
To showcase its development milestones, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London recently collaborated with the fashion powerhouse Gucci to bring us the museum’s first major exhibition celebrating men’s fashion. Curated by Claire Wilcox, Marta Franceschini, and Rosalind McKever, the exhibition features nearly a hundred outfits and artworks, tracing the making and remaking of menswear over centuries. The scale of the exhibition and the impressive collection of exhibits have excited fashion enthusiasts worldwide! Let’s now reveal the highlights of the exhibition for everyone!
This special exhibition is divided into 3 parts, namely “Undressed”, “Overdressed”, and “Redressed”. The exhibition covers a variety of fashion styles from Gucci, Harris Reed, Grace Wales Bonner, and Raf Simons. In addition, there are classical sculptures, paintings from the Renaissance period, photography, videos, performances, contemporary works by legendary masters and emerging fashion designers, as well as historical treasures from the V&A Museum all coming together.
The inaugural exhibition “Undressed” explores the male body and underwear in a dreamy wonderland. Two classic sculptures highlight the traditional depiction of the ideal male body, alongside reproductions and photographs by art masters such as David Hockney, Lionel Wendt, as well as contemporary body artworks like Calvin Klein advertisements.
The second exhibition hall “Overdressed” explores extraordinary menswear, featuring wide cuts, bold colors of silk and velvet, luxurious materials, as well as iconic patterns that showcase status, wealth, and personality. The exhibition hall brings together the essence of centuries, showcasing chest armor, silk suits, capes, ribbons, and lace.
The third gallery “Redressed” will be a patchwork of fashionable men’s suits from the 18th century to contemporary times. The gallery will open a chapter on the origins of British country suits and suits, showcasing both V&A’s collection of vintage clothing and new creations, including Scottish skirts by Nicholas Daley, before exploring how military uniforms have influenced civilian clothing.
V&A celebrates the opening of the headline exhibition area with a display of 3 classic evening gowns worn by Billy Porter, Harry Styles, and Bimini Bon Boulash, along with a commemorative film produced by Quentin Jones of Cadence Films.
The exhibition brings together various male artistic styles from past and present, allowing viewers to glimpse the changes and innovations in men’s fashion over the centuries, definitely worth a visit.
“Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear” Exhibition
Date: From now until November 6, 2022
Location: Victoria and Albert Museum
Image source and learn more: Gucci, Victoria and Albert Museum
