The Oscars of the fashion world will take place Monday May 5 and we are pretty excited about the Chicago Connection. The 2014 exhibit Charles James: Beyond Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City will examine the career of legendary twentieth-century Anglo-American couturier Charles James (1906–1978).
The History:
Charles James was born in Chicago to a British father and scene making Chicago mother. At age nineteen in 1926, Charles James opened his first hat shop in Chicago. He subsequently moved to New York City to further his career. The Chicago History museum showcased in 2012 a well praised Charles James exhibit curated by Timothy Long.
The Met exhibit will explore James’s design process, focusing on his use of sculptural, scientific, and mathematical approaches to construct “revolutionary ball gowns and innovative tailoring that continue to influence designers today. Approximately seventy-five of James’s most notable designs will be presented in two locations—the new Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Gallery in the Anna Wintour Costume Center as well as special exhibition galleries on the Museum’s first floor.”
The Fashion:
Stated in invitations and on the order of the Met Ball doyenne Anna Wintour herself who oversees both the benefit committee and the guest list, the dress code for the men in attendance is White Tie and Decorations. Does that mean a highbrow Downton Abby with tailcoats, waistcoat, and wing collar shirts?
Think that’s not enough? Ticket prices this year have been increased from $15,000 to $25,000 (GHAT DAYUM!). With the insistence that men wear black tails and top hats, while women will be expected to get dolled up in their finest ball gowns(or designer interpretation of it), the muses and their designers will walk the Met stairs and we can’t wait to see the interpretations.
Lupita Nyong’o will be representing Prada.
Zoe Saldana will be dressed by Prabal Gurung
Margot Robbie (Wolf of Wallstreet) will be dressed by Diane von Furstenberg
Lovelace’s Amanda Seyfried by Givenchy
Taylor Swift by J. Mendel
Zooey Deschanel Tommy Hilfiger
Kristen Stewart Chanel
Michelle Dockery, Jessica Chastain, Jessica Pare, Emilia Clarke, Naomi Watts, and Allison Williams
For Chanel
Met ball takes place Monday May 5 and can seen via livestream on Vogue
Here is Vogue International Editor Hamish Bowles during a recent to the Chicago History Museum to view some of the Charles James pieces.
