The other evening, someone asked me what makes me giddy. Since I’ve become quite jaded in my five years as an Angeleno, I hastily grumbled something about paychecks arriving in my mailbox and quickly went back to drinking my wine. But later, while thinking about my answer, I realized that my response was wrong. There are plenty of things — both rare and everyday — that consistently make my stomach turn flips of glee (long weekends in San Francisco and Olive Garden breadsticks, included).
Despite the fact that I officially “work in fashion” and am supposed to act “whatever” about any and all interview subjects, party invites and pieces of wearable art that come my way, one guaranteed means to get my giddiness going on the job is when the Costume Council of LACMA hosts an event.
And last week, the Council kicked off their season with a lecture given by Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Council curator Andrew Bolton, who arrived from New York to offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Alexander McQueen exhibit he produced last summer.
In front of a packed auditorium, Bolton described the Savage Beauty exhibit that had been in the works since before McQueen’s shocking suicide in February, 2010. Extensive photos of the exhibit itself was a welcome sight for those of us who missed the real thing. While video clips and anecdotes of McQueen’s most theatrical runway shows — including the 1999 Islam-inspired collection whose runway turned into an “oil slick.” Hering Bolton talk about the fallen genius really, truly drilled into the minds of everyone there that this man was so much more than just clothes.
Most haunting was a clip of McQueen’s spring 2004 show, which was held in a 19th century Parisian dance hall and featured models twirling about in satin evening gowns, glamorous can can skirts with intricately beaded bodices and silver lame fishtail dresses. As the show went on, the movements went from jubilent to tired. And the finale featured a flame-haired Karen Elson, as Bolton put it, “being hauled off the stage in utter exhaustion.” The curator’s words proved, to me at least, to be an eery metaphor for a brilliant fashion designer who was likely quite exhausted himself.
Having the opportunity to learn about actual fashion without the fluff and noise currently crowding the industry — in my own backyard, no less — makes me giddy. As does the promise of the Costume Council’s next major exhibit, “Reigning Men: From the Macaroni to the Metrosexual,” which will showcase menswear from the 1700s and beyond and debuts in 2014. And, of course, the rest of their current programming season.
Sure, it’s no bottomless basket of garlic-soaked breadsticks. But it’ll do.
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