So today, I put on my detective trench coat (more like my leather jacket actually) and put up my collar (this I really did). I had questions to ask around because you can’t announce you’re going to change the world if you don’t have a clue of what is going on. I mean it may help you because you will think outside the box but you will probably end up on the wrong shelf.
As I am and always will be an art historian, I went to look for answers at the museum. Museum are like Wikipedia. If you know where to look, you’ll find every information you are searching for and in a material form. London is a great place for this. Especially because of one specific museum: the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Ashley Shairp desk working on 'Tis pity she's a whore
The theatre and performance department of the V&A was definitely the place to look at on the question of costume and design for performance. It helps understanding the importance of the garment in building the overall show and also reminds of what remains from the performance afterwards. I particularly like two displays in that gallery. The first one is Ashley Shairp’s desk recreating her creative process as a set and costume designer. The second one is Kylie Minogue’s dressing room from the “Showgirl: Homecoming” tour. It gives you a proper idea of how much a pop-star is carrying with her on tour.
Call me nosy but now that I've seen her dressing room, I feel closer to Kylie.
When you investigate, another method is to ask questions. I am lucky to live with live singer Michelle Daly (check her website) who told me from her Opera experience that the one place for costume is this one: Angels. They actually have a long history of vintage, second-hand and garment for hire that sounds very sustainable to me.
Back on the red carpet, I turn into a little bit of a cynical private investigator. In a way, we all know that designers lend the outfit to the celebrities for the night (this article will tell you if you didn’t know about it) Yet, as the author mentions, the wearer get to keep the gown. However, if you get caught wearing the same one twice, don’t expect any mercy.
Some of the red carpet walkers are actually braver than the average. Carey Mulligan was seriously told off for wearing the same dress twice last January (the title of this article is pretty straight forward). I don’t know why she did it but starring in two major movies in 2011, I can’t help thinking it was a bit of a statement she made. And I don’t see were the problem is actually, the dress is really nice and on those big occasions, you might as well want to wear something you feel comfortable and confident in. She is a human being after all, not a plastic mannequin.
Livia Firth is more open and more active about it. The Green Carpet Challenge is a very nice initiative. I would be absolutely enthusiastic if it wasn’t for a faux-pas about Meryll Streep in her Lanvin’s gold-lamé gown at the Oscars. Did Livia really have to hammer down the nail of bad eco-design by adding “Can you tell” to her description of the eco-certified fabric? Nonetheless, it is a very good promotion for eco-friendly designers and also a good way for great names in the industry to get involved so I can’t do anything but salute the good use of the celebrities network!
My investigation confirmed there were things for us to rethink on stage as well as on the red carpet and THE dress would be our answer.
And as a week-end treat, more pics from the V&A gallery (don’t forget to check their current display and their upcoming geeky exhibition):
itwillbethedress 