So far the year 2021 has seen plenty of cancellations of live events due to covid-19. Luckily, as the vaccination programs roll out, things are starting to look more positive. Here are four fashion exhibitions scheduled to take place in the second half of the year. Since things remain uncertain, we recommend that you keep an eye on the websites of the respective venues for any last-minute changes.
Beautiful People: The Boutique in 1960s Counterculture
London fashion boutiques and designers such as Ossie Clark, Biba and Granny Takes A Trip are synonymous with the 60s. This exhibition recreates some of Chelsea’s most iconic boutiques and the creations that revolutionized the youth culture of the time. “Their outrageously flamboyant designs were inspired by romantic ideas of the past; Byron-esque frilled shirts were paired with Regency brocades and plush velvet trousers were mixed with influences from Morocco and the Far East,” states the Fashion and Textile Museum website. Beautiful People is also set to showcase garments worn by some of the most popular icons of the time including The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Marianne Faithfull.
Fashion and Textile Museum, London, UK, 3rd September 2021 to January 2022
Ruth E Carter: Afrofuturism In Costume Design
With 60 costumes and ephemera from the award-winning designer Ruth E Carter, this exhibition promises to be something truly special. Well-known for her styles in films such as Do The Right Thing and Black Panther, Ruth brings character and vibrancy to each of her creations. Over the past four decades, she has designed garments for such big names as Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Eddie Murphy and Rosie Perez. Many of the costumes on show are accompanied by sketches showing Ruth’s research and design process.
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, US, until 12th September 2021
Fashion Photography From The 1990s — curated By Claudia Schiffer
Curated by the 90s model Claudia Schiffer, this exhibition brings to life the work (billboards, prints, magazine pages, photos and Polaroids) of famous photographers such as Juergen Teller, Ellen von Unwerth and Karl Lagerfeld. From famous women wearing high-waisted jeans to denim dresses and chinos, the 120 or so works include both major shots of famous models and more intimate work by lesser-known photographers. Claudia also presents videos, music and memorabilia from her personal collection to reflect the vibrancy of the decade and give visitors a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her life.
Kunstpalast, Germany, 15th September to 9th January 2022.
Simply brilliant: Artist Jewellers of the 1960s and 1970s
With around 120 pieces, this exhibition showcases jewelry that represents the new-found freedom of the 60s and 70s. “Jewelry of the 1960s and 1970s was as groundbreaking as the era itself. The space race, rock ‘n’ roll, the Beatles, the Vietnam War, the Kennedy assassination, the civil rights movement, Pop Art, the women’s movement, the widespread use of drugs, the Pill, and the concept of free love were all facets of cultural change associated with these two decades,” states the Cincinnati Art Museum website. The exhibition shows the work of well-known jewelers such as Barbara Anton, Thierry Vendome and Andrew Grima, and high-end houses including Cartier and Bulgari.
Cincinnati Art Museum, US, 22nd October 2021 to 6th February 2022
