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Andrew Bolton, the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s chief curator, suggest that the current exhibit ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ is not only a visual fest, but that it is a fest for all the senses. The current exhibit, which is a fashion cornucopia of flora and fauna, features over 220 pieces from the Costume Institute’s archives, as well as several new acquisitions.
“This exhibit was inspired by the desire to see, understand, and research the multifaceted sensory elements of the masterworks here at the Costume Institute collection. A painting is painted to be looked at sitting on a wall and for us to interact with it [hanging]. A dress is designed to be worn and move in space with its wearer. When a work of fashion enters the Met Collection, something happens; it becomes an object. It is transformed into that existence we can no longer wear, touch, feel or hear or smell it in the way the original creator intended,” Met Museum CEO Max Hollein explained to a preview crowd, as reported in a recent fashionnetwork.com article.
“The 220 pieces on display range from the 17th century to the present and is our largest, most ambitious in terms of range and stroke. This includes 75 pieces that extend our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and emerging design talent,” Bolton said, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. “More than any other form of artistic expression, fashion undergoes the most radical transformation status upon entering the Met’s Costume Institute collection. Fashion is a living art form that requires most of our senses for full appreciation and greatest understanding; it’s to be seen, heard, touched, smelled, and sometimes even tasted. We aim to reactive the sensory nature of the garments,” Bolton continued.
Bolton explained that this current exhibit not only stimulates the senses, artificial intelligence (AI) has also been used for ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ exhibit. A Charles Worth dress has been totally realized using an AI avatar. Additionally, a 1930s wedding dress designed by Pierre Gerber of the Callot Soeurs has been brought to life using AI technology. Bolton detailed that the AI technology used in the current exhibit was the most expensive aspect of the exhibit.
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Workers unite!!
Conde Nast has reached an agreement with the Conde Nast Union. This agreement was reached early Monday before the 2024 Met Gala. It has been revealed on social media that the Met Gala would be picketed by Conde Nast workers as workers walked off their jobs if an initial agreement was not reached.
Conde Nast Union members had placards ready for picketing at the Met Gala. Messaging included, “Anna Wintour’s dress cost more than my annual salary,” and “Anna Wintour can spend $77 on a caprese salad every day, but it’s the workers who have to cut costs?”
This initial agreement is between Conde Nast and its union workers at such esteemed publications as Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, Teen Vogue, and other Conde Nast publications. As reported in the New York Times, this initial agreement includes $3.3 million in overall company wage increases, as well as a $61,500 initial starting salary, two additional weeks of family leave, greater bereavement leave, and ending its current “two-tier permanence system.”
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Bella Hadid expands
If being the face of countless brands and name recognition is not enough, supermodel Bella Hadid has a new business venture. Bella is launching her new beauty venture, ‘Ôrəbella, an alcohol-free perfume brand. ‘Ôrəbella translates in Arabic into iron ore—a naturally occurring material for extracting valuable minerals, coupled with the word ‘aura’, can mean that metaphysical presence that surrounds people.
The fragrance launch will contain three fragrance offerings Salted Muse, Winter2Soul, and Blooming Fire. These three fragrances have healing properties that are good for the skin and the soul. Belal Hadid collaborated with fragrance houses Firmenich and Robertet with these genderless fragrances that pay homage to nature and nature’s healing properties.
According to fashionnetwork.com, All Ôrəbella products are alcohol-free, dermatologist-tested, suitable for sensitive skin, and formulated without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, gluten, or wheat-derived ingredients. Ôrəbella is available online now and at Ulta Beauty and other retail stores on May 10.
—William S. Gooch
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