Comme des Garçons, Spring 2015. Photo courtesy of Comme des Garçons.
Fairy Tale Fashion on view now through April 16, 2016 at the Museum at FIT in New York, NY. Admission is free.
Cinderella is famously distinguished from her stepsisters by her delicate slippers (made of gold, glass, or fur, depending on the version and translation of the tale), but it is her lavish ball gown that first catches the prince’s eye. While “Cinderella” is probably the fairy tale most frequently associated with clothing, many others, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “Furrypelts,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “The Wizard of Oz,” use descriptions of dress to portray their characters’ transformation, vanity, power, or privilege. These descriptions of clothing also serve to enhance the sense of wonder and fantasy that is integral to the fairy tale genre.
Fairy Tale Fashion will use some of the most extraordinary, beautiful, and luxurious examples of fashion to illustrate more than twelve fairy tales, including well-known tales such as “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Little Red Riding Hood.” In addition to offering a brief history of the fairy tales and their significance, the show will highlight their direct references to fashion. There will be more than 80 looks in Fairy Tale Fashion , including a number of recent creations from labels such as Comme des Garçons, Dolce and Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, Prada, Rodarte, and Undercover.
Fashion and Textile Exhibitions Currently on View
