queerguru loves LACMA! The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is adding yet another stunning exhibition to its roster so soon after it just opened it’s breathtaking Mapplethorpe Retrospective last month (see ‘Looking at Mapplethorpe’). This time they are turning their attention to the much neglected subject of mens fashion that is always treated like a poor relation to womenswear.
Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear, 1715–2015 is the result of 5 years of work by curators Sharon Takeda and Kaye Spilker who have put together one of the largest reviews of men’s fashion in history. They have innovatively opted not to present the exhibits in the show chronologically, thus allowing for the different influences and trends to be highlighted throughout the centuries, and showing the diversity and limitations of men’s fashion. Psychedelic and otherworldly outfits from the 1960s are paired with Dandy getups, highlighting the way cut, form and color have been interpreted and restructured throughout the years. Mid-century pieces—unusually subdued in approach—are paired with simple outfits from the 1800s.
The exhibition features 200 looks, and celebrates a rich history of restraint and resplendence in menswear. In an interview with Frontiers Magazine, Spilker notes that there is an unusual amount of diversity in men’s clothing these days. “Men are willing to experiment and stand out,” she says. “It’s been a trend in the last few decades. But I hope younger audiences walk through the exhibit and realize something: there’s absolutely nothing new in fashion. Everything has been done.”
‘Reining Men’ runs until August 21st : tickets and information at http://www.lacma.org : you’d be a real fool to miss it!
Labels: 2016, culture, exhibition, fashion, L.A.
