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From 7 March to 16 July 2023, the Palais Galliera is organizing an exhibition focusing on the year 1997, a watershed year in the history of contemporary fashion. Queerguru’s own Paris-based Contributing Editor Richard Gilles, with camera in hand, couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss is about : here’s his 1st hand report :
1997, Fashion Big Bang… There was a time – last century – when fashion was not disposable and about talent when designers were highly creative, and when models empowered the clothes on the catwalk… a time when there was no Kardashian sitting on the first row or – even worse – pretending to model… 1997 was the epitome of that creativity either in ready-to-wear or haute couture… Designers – fresh on the scene or in their prime- inspired by Patti Smith, birds, insects, trees, gothic novels…
As dear Edina would say :”Names, names, names!”: Ready-to-wear: Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons, Anne Demeulemeester, Véronique Branquinho, Alber Elbaz (Guy Laroche), Josephus Thimister, Hedi Slimane (Yves Saint Laurent menswear)… Haute Couture: Alexander McQueen for Givenchy, Monsieur Lacroix, Galliano, for Dior, Mugler, Gaultier… Catwalk goddesses: Madame Debra Shaw, Marie-Sophie Wilson, Kristen McMenamy, Patricia Velasquez…
Indeed there was a time when I felt passionate about fashion.
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Curator : Alexandre Samson, Head of collections, haute couture (after 1947) and contemporary creation departments, at the Palais Galliera, assisted by Louise Habert.
Discover the playlist accompanying this exhibition. Published by Paris Musées, this playlist was created under the artistic direction of Michel Gaubert, sound illustrator of the greatest fashion shows since the 1990s. Available for free on Spotify, Deezer et Youtube.
1997 FASHION BIG BANG 07.03 - 16.07.2023 Reservation is advised : www.billetterie-parismusees.paris.fr
Review: Richard Gilles (Paris) is slightly past his prime, but still a vivacious true Parisian spirit. He has worked as a journalist in the spheres of the arts and luxury for the last few decades and is now the happy correspondent for QueerGuru in the City of Lights.
P.S. SAVE THE DATE Vogue tells us what to expect from the V+ A, London's majpr retrospective Gabrielle Chanel.
Fashion Manifesto, which will run from 16 September 2023 to 25 February 2024.
Comments
4 responses to “Queerguru’s Richard Gilles is in raptures about 1997 BIG BANG FASHION at Palais Galliera, Paris”
“Slightly passed his prime?”
How ageist!
Passion and a craft never age.
Loved Richard’s retroactive.
Richard wrote this about himself ….
Heaven!
“Slightly passed his prime” ? No way!
Passion & craft don’t age.
Loved Richard’s retrospective.