Synopses & Reviews
With the dramatic increase in popularity of fashion exhibitions over the past decade, this groundbreaking book provides a timely look at the evolution of the practice, taking as its anchor the seminal 1971 Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition Fashion: An Anthology by Cecil Beaton, revealing it to be symptomatic of a shift in museological attitudes. The authorsand#8217; combined experience of more than forty years, one in architecture and exhibition design and the other in fashion history and curating, informs their detailed account of the exhibition. Accompanied by photographs of Beatonand#8217;s museum work published here for the first time, their narrative establishes a perspective from which to view working practices today.
Research into international exhibitions from the early 20th century to the present results in some 150 stunning illustrations, including previously unpublished exhibition photographs and out-of-print documents. Through this research and the testimony of curators, exhibition designers, and mannequin manufacturers, the authors discover striking continuity in the development of the fundamental equation of mannequin, dress, and mise-en-scand#232;ne. A comprehensive chronology from 1971 illustrates the exponential rise in exhibitions of Western dress on an international scale.
Review
and#8220;[T]his groundbreaking book provides a timely look at the evolution of the practice, taking as its anchor the seminal 1971 Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition and#8216;Fashion: An Anthology by Cecil Beatonand#8217;. The authorsand#8217; combined experience of more than 40 years and#8211; one in architecture and exhibition design and the other in fashion history and curating and#8211; informs this detailed account of the exhibition.and#8221;and#8212;Independent on Sunday
Review
and#8220;Clark and De La Hayeand#8217;s book is centered around many photographs from the exhibition that have never been published, as well as case studies on museum collections. True to her unusual approach towards exhibiting, Clark invites the reader see exhibitions in a new light.and#8221;and#8212;Daily Beast
Synopsis
A vivid history of fashion exhibitions that informs contemporary curating practices, from two experts in the field
About the Author
Judith Clark is professor of fashion and museology and Amy de la Haye is professor of dress history and curatorship, Rootstein Hopkins Chair, both at the London College of Fashion. Jeffrey Horsley is an independent curator and writer.