Weekend plans: Edward Steichen

Have you ever in your life seen anything quite so chic as this?
FRANCE
Tippet and muff c.1935 (detail)
Fur (colobus monkey), silk crepe, silk (braid), resin clasp (a) 34.0 cm (centre back), 200.0 cm (hem circumference) (tippet) (b) 46.0 x 38.0 x 14.5 cm (muff)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Jana Purcell, 2012
 (Try to ignore the fact that this outfit is largely composed of very un-PC monkey fur, dyed, I presume, unless colobus monkeys were mint green in the 1930s ). It’s just one of the many super-stylish outfits which are complementing a treasure trove of fashion photographs at the Edward Steichen and Art Deco Fashion exhibition at Melbourne’s NGV right now. Photos like these… 
Edward Steichen
American 1879–1973, emigrated to United States 1881, worked in France 1906–23
Olympic diver Katherine Rawls 1931, gelatin silver photograph
Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, © 1931 Condé Nast Publications
Edward Steichen
American 1879–1973, emigrated to United States 1881, worked in France 1906–23
Marlene Dietrich 1934, gelatin silver photograph
Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, © 1934 Condé Nast Publications

 Edward Steichen
American 1879–1973, emigrated to United States 1881, worked in France 1906–23
Model Dorothy Smart wearing a black velvet hat by Madame Agnès 1926, gelatin silver photograph
Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, © 1926 Condé Nast Publications

I had the pleasure of attending the media launch of the exhibition recently, but will definitely be visiting again as I was in a bit too much of a rush to take things in properly. All that glamour was slightly overwhelming first thing in the morning! 

FRANCE
Jacket (c. 1933)
silk, gelatin sequins
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased NGV Foundation, 2012

If you follow me on Instagram (@Stylewilderness) then you might have seen a few of my posts from the launch as I went slightly snap happy – you’ll understand why once you get to the exhibition. These bathing pyjamas were so chic!


 And why don’t magazine do covers like these any more? Vogue? Hint, hint…

So much beauty. Sigh.
The photos by Steichen have already travelled around the world for this exhibition, but the NGV had the brilliant idea of teaming the photos with delectable Deco fashion from their archives, a task which fell to the lucky, LUCKY Paola Di Trocchio, the gallery’s fashion curator. Wouldn’t I love to step into her shoes for, oh, the rest of my life!!?  I’m not sure that even Paola’s incredible efforts would have worked quite as well, though, if the design of the exhibition itself were not so innovative. I seem to have lost the press release about who did it, but check back here in a few days and I’ll have a name for you! Or better still – get to the exhibition this weekend, find out for yourself, and see some amazing pieces of history in the process.

＊日本語の方はVogue Nipponのブログでどうぞ！

Category : amazing fashion discoveries, Art Deco, art stuff, arty photography, Melbourne, vintage designer fashion