The Costume Institute in New York City is preparing for a highly-anticipated exhibition that will highlight the influence and impact of American fashion. Titled “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” and “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” the exhibition will run from September 18, 2021, to September 5, 2022.
The aim of the exhibition is to delve into the modern vocabulary of American fashion and commemorate the 75th anniversary of The Costume Institute. It will be divided into two parts, each showcasing different aspects of American fashion.
The first part, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” will debut on September 18, 2021, at the Anna Wintour Costume Center. This section will feature a collection of 20th and 21st-century fashion, reflecting the customs and behaviors of imagined occupants. It provides a unique opportunity to explore the evolving nature of American fashion.
The second part, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” will open on May 5, 2022, in the American Wing period rooms. This section aims to delve into the development of American fashion by presenting narratives that relate to the complex and layered histories of those spaces. It will showcase historical and contemporary women’s and men’s dress from the 18th century to the present, displayed in select period rooms.
Max Hollein, the director of The Met, expressed the significance of fashion in society, stating, “Fashion is both a harbinger of cultural shifts and a record of the forces, beliefs, and events that shape our lives. This two-part exhibition will consider how fashion reflects evolving notions of identity in America and will explore a multitude of perspectives through presentations that speak to some of the complexities of history with powerful immediacy. In looking at the past through this lens, we can consider the aesthetic and cultural impact of fashion on historical aspects of American life.”
Traditionally, the annual MET Gala, a highlight of the fashion calendar, takes place on the first Monday in May to raise funds for The Costume Institute. However, due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the event has been canceled for the second consecutive year. Despite this setback, the opening of the first part of the exhibition will be celebrated with a more intimate Costume Institute Benefit on September 13, 2021, subject to government guidelines. The eagerly-awaited Met Gala for the exhibition’s second part is scheduled for May 2, 2022.
The September gala will be co-chaired by notable figures such as Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman, and Naomi Osaka. Additionally, Tom Ford, Adam Mosseri, and Anna Wintour will serve as honorary chairs for the evening. This esteemed group of individuals will contribute to the celebration of American fashion and the exploration of its rich history and cultural significance at The Costume Institute’s exhibition.
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