Saturday, May 28, 2011

McQueen at the Met

As most of you know, this past Wednesday I took the train into NYC for the day to visit the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met (which is apparently so popular that it’s run is being extended into August), wander around Central Park for a bit, and meet some friends in Union Square for some beers on an outdoor patio. As I expected, the McQueen exhibit was nothing short of spectacular. The space was set up in the fashion of what I would characterize as a gothic ballroom in a very witchy and dark Versailles. Think Baroque style gold frames housing blackened and cracked mirrors with the haunting melodies of Handel and the anthem “God Save the Queen” playing softly in the background. The exhibit itself featured nearly 100 articles of clothing and 50 accessory pieces designed by McQueen (including a stunning section of immaculately tailored all black suit-like pieces featuring McQueen's famed "bumster" pants) and was structured around the themes of romanticism, nationalism, exoticism, and historicism.

I, personally, found the historicism theme to be the most striking and it was replete with references to the Rape of the Highlands (the theme of one of McQueen’s most celebrated collections), the Battle of Culloden, English imperialism and nationalism, and even Tudor and Jacobean portraiture. As the Director’s forward to the exhibit catalogue eloquently phrased it, “mythic images of chivalry, brutality, and romance, ideals of heroic women, beauty in the unconventional – these ideas infused McQueen’s designs with an unparalleled emotional depth and challenged us to embrace new ideas about gender, history, and nature.”

Photography was strictly prohibited but I was able to grab a few shots with my IPhone and I rustled up a few more images generated by others of items inside the exhibit. Enjoy (and, if you have a chance, definitely, definitely come to view this exhibit – you will not be disappointed in this fitting tribute to an innovative and talented artist).



Glam shots inside the Met




Cleopatra's Needle in the Park




McQueen


McQueen



Hanging with my helpmeet (ignore the weird hair - this was at the end of the day and after two pints)


The Met


McQueen (image credit: my weheartit archive)


McQueen (image credit: my weheartit archive)


McQueen (image credit: my weheartit archive)


McQueen (image credit: my weheartit archive)



McQueen (image credit: my weheartit archive)

42 comments:

Yajaira said...

great photos
love mcqueen

Aina said...

Gotta love McQueen. So amazing

Keep up the great work!

Smiles,
Aina

THE DUSTY LOFT

nycstylelittlecannoli said...

great post, heading to see this in a few weeks and getting very excited. always love the Met but this exhibit is just amazing! :)

Rebeccak said...

woah - those feathered dresses are AMAZING. How incredible would it be to wear one! So sad I will miss this exhibition, I arrive in NYC just two weeks after! boooo.

Tabitha said...

So jealous you got to see that exhibit. When I was there last week we didn't get a chance to see it, but definitely would have loved to see it.

Natalie Suarez said...

so awesome! i love it :)

natalieoffduty.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

These are amazing pictures! I love McQueen, I wish I could go visit that exhibit! lots of love from your follower, Veena <3

http://seven-inch-stilettos.blogspot.com/

Closet Fashionista said...

SO amazing!!!!! I love all the pieces *sigh*
Emma Watson wore the red cape/white dress in a photoshoot for Harpers Bazaar a couple years ago :D
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

laura said...

Very sneaky with the photos, but I would've done the same thing! And how marvelous are the pieces on display! It sounds like you had a blast of a time!

noone said...

mcqueen was so inventive, and I love those lobster claw shoes!!

Emma said...

You look Gorgeous! These are Fabulous Pictures! McQueen was an Amazing artist and designer.

1972 said...

Great review! Would have loved to have seen some of McQueen's menswear included in there too . . .

http://1972projects.blogspot.com/2011/05/alter-ego-mcqueen-and-menswear.html

JM

Caroline Ergy Erg said...

Ahhh so beautiful! I wish i could go :) great snaps!
xxxxxx

Veronika Novotny said...

Amazing images, wow! What a stunning McQueen exhibit and you look super gorg in all your pics (of course) and I L-O-V-E your cocktail ring, so pretty!! xx veronika

DediLovesFashion said...

great photos.
xo

Maddie said...

wow, so lucky! I don't know why I didn't go to the Met when I was in NY but I regret it!

StyleIDnet said...

I am so jealous ... he is (WAS) such an artist.... I can imagine the scenario at the MET and it just wants me to be there! thanks for managing to get those pictures from the exhibit ... NY looks like really fun for summer, I need to go.

http://styleidnet.blogspot.com/
http://www.filomenascloset.com/

jess said...

It looks amazing. My friend and I are going over the summer and I can't wait.

Jessica Weingarten said...

Aaah such a great museum to showcase such a wonderful collection. So jealous that you got to go, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Opal Wells said...

It's so awesome that you got to do this! Everything cool goes down in New York but it's just a bit too overwhelming for me there. Anyway, love these photos... the building is perfect for his style!

jenniwells.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

courtney this looks amazing! I would definitely get chills. you look gorgeous! sounds so fun :)

xoxo

stylenuggets said...

So worth a look. Hope this exhibit comes here at some stage.

LyddieGal said...

McQueen's designs really do seem more like artwork belonging in a museum than clothing that could actually be worn. The designs are so over the top and so fabulous though - i love that lace and ruffled dress.

Chic on the Cheap

Claire said...

seriously, McQueen was so genius. I'm especially obsessed with the feathers. I love those outfits in particular! Looks like a fun trip to the Met (and some other great NYC places!).

spinning-threads.blogspot.com

Jamie-Lee Burns said...

I'm hoping I'll get to go when I'm in NYC, that must have been so amazing to get to go :)

roberto syrious said...

wow you simple get in!!!
lucky!!!
i'm so jelaous!!
just think h was a great and amazing designer!!
xoxo

Syriously in Fashion
Facebook

Explendid said...

Amazing!
I really would like to be there!!!

good blog,
kisses

Miles Of Style said...

lovely pics! i'd love to visit the MET someday...thanks for the virtual peek inside :))

Diana Mieczan said...

I would love to see all those pieces in person. Sounds like an amazing day, darling and have a great Monday
Kisses

Anonymous said...

Great photos. I love the Met but would like it even more if I got to see this exhibit!! xo

Ellie said...

I'm so glad you enjoyed the exhibit! It was absolutely amazing. Ah so sorry you're spending your afternoon packing, try to enjoy some of the day!

Have a great day!
-Ellie

Unknown said...

It really looks amazing. I can't wait to go there.

Nav said...

Looks like a great weekend! Exhibit looks amazing. Thanks for the tour :)

xo Nav
http://navlandstyle.blogspot.com

Marie a la Mode said...

Oh wow how lucky are you to live so close to NYC and visit all these fabulous landmarks? I cannot wait to go to NY next year!

It must have been amazing to see all of those McQueen designs up close!

Oh to Be a Muse said...

this exhibit really does look as wonderful as everyone keeps saying it is. i really love that you snapped a couple photos even though you weren't allowed. :)

Fashion Limbo said...

thanks for sharing your visit with us. I'm so dying to go to NY simply to see that, but it's not happening as I am completely poor, but is great to rely on people like you that will really appreciate the exhibit and give us a great account of what you saw. He was incredibly talented and it's physically painful to think that we won't get to see another collection by Lee McQueen xxx

this free bird said...

gah! did you just lose it?? i would have passed out on the floor (vs the air?) it's been a long day

xo,
c

Leia said...

Sounds like such a great day! I'd love to visit the Met one day.

Leia

HailesHeartsFashion said...

wooowww! You are soo lucky!! I wish I could have gone. Obviously its thousands of miles so I'm not gonna get to :( Amaaazing photos xxxx

p.s thank you for your lovely comments on my blog!


http://hailesheartsfashion.blogspot.com/

Prutha Raithatha said...

i just saw the exhibit this past weekend and am still dreaming about his art... its just insanely out of this world..i am going to go again...


www.donotshoeme.blogspot.com

Sandy Joe said...

WOW. I want to go to this so bad! You're a lucky gal!

x The Pretty Secrets

Nnenna said...

I saw the McQueen exhibit the first week it opened and I loved it soo much! I really do think I'll have to go see it again!

star-crossed smile