NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 10: A general view of the Ballerina: Fashion’s Modern Muse exhibit at The Museum at FIT on February 10, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
Anna Pavlova Dying Swan
Cristobal Balenciaga for Hattie Carnegie, pink silk tulle and satin evening dress with silver metal embroidery, 1950. Lent by Beverley Birks. ©The Mjuseum at FIT
Yves Saint Laurent, ostrich feather coat worn by Margot Fonteyn, 1965. Lent by Fashion Museum Bath. Photo by WIlliam Palmer
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 10: A general view of the Ballerina: Fashion’s Modern Muse exhibit at The Museum at FIT on February 10, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 10: A general view of the Ballerina: Fashion’s Modern Muse exhibit at The Museum at FIT on February 10, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
Christian Dior, “Debussy” sequined evening gown worn by Margot Fonteyn, S/S 1950. Lent by Fashion Museum Bath. Photograph by William Palmer.
Christian Dior, “Debussy” sequined evening gown worn by Margot Fonteyn, S/S 1950. Lent by Fashion Museum Bath. Photograph by William Palmer.
Noritaka Tatehana, pink leather ballerina pointe-style shoes, 2012. The Museum at FIT ©the museum of FIT.
Barbara Karinska, black lace and peach silk organza evening dress, 1941. The Museum at FIT, Gift of Irene Averbrook Weissman. ©The Museum at FIT
Charles James, black silk and synthetic net and satin evening dress,1954. The Museum at FIT Gift of Robert Wells in Memory of Lisa Kirk ©The Mjuseum at FIT
Christian Dior, black wool “Goemon” coat worn by Margot Fonteyn, f/w 1947 . Lent by Fashion Museum Bath Photograph by William Palmer
Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, “Etoiles” navy blue tulle and sequin evening dress 1937. Lent by Beverley Birks. ©The Museum of FIT
Tina Leser, pink rayon evening dress, circa 1950. Lent by Beverley Birks. ©The Museum at FIT
Pierre Balmain, painted white tulle debutant gown with painted velvet “feathers”, spring 1960. Lent by Hamish Bowles ©The Museum at FIT
Dear Shaded Viewers,
The Museum at FIT showcases the ballerina’s influence on fashion in its current exhibition called “Ballerina: Fashion’s Modern Muse,”. The exhibition assembles more than 90 pieces from across nearly a century.
From Parisian couture to British custom-made clothing, American ready-to-wear to a selection of ballet costumes and rehearsal clothing, Ballerina: Fashion’s Modern Muse illustrates the connection between dance costume and fashion. Couturiers such as Balmain, Balenciaga, Chanel, Schiaparelli, Charles James, Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent designed ballet-inspired dresses and gowns, many featuring the boned bodices and voluminous tulle skirts of classical tutus. American ready-to-wear designers such as Claire McCardell found inspiration in ballet leotards and other practice clothing, creating knitted separates, bathing suits, and wrap dresses.
Patricia Meares, deputy director of the museum curated the exhibition . My dear friend Marc Happel, Director of Costumes at the New York City Ballet, worked with her on design and contributed three of his own designs to the show (Sym in C tutu, Piano Concerto 2 costume, and NYC Ballet principal dancer Sara Mearns’ wedding dress) as well as coordinating the inclusion of 7 costumes from the NYC Ballet collection of Barbara Karinska designed costumes.
Organized by Patricia Mears, deputy director of MFIT, from 11 February – April 18, 2020
There is also a book: https://www.amazon.com/Ballerina-Fashions-Modern-Patricia-Mears/dp/0865653739
Diane Pernet
A LEGENDARY FIGURE IN FASHION and a pioneer of blogging, Diane is a respected journalist, critic, curator and talent-hunter based in Paris. During her prolific career, she designed her own successful brand in New York, costume designer, photographer, and filmmaker.
