Series | Reiko's Room ♥︎ Vol. 14: Dream Fashion at the Met

Series | Reiko's Room ♥︎

Vol. 14: Dream Fashion at the Met

Hello, it's Reiko. New York is in its prime season right now. On sunny days, I've been finding myself with more time to lounge in Central Park. Recently, I visited the annual summer fashion exhibition hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, "CAMP: Notes on Fashion," which opened last month. I recall working at a high-fashion magazine after graduating from university… There was even a time when I was rushing around covering Paris Fashion Week. Seeing the excessively ornate dresses, is it instinct? Does my blood stir? Does it ignite my desire to shop!?… In any case, I found myself drawn into the dream world of fashion.

Photographs & Text by Reico

The Venue: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Full of Wonders!

The theme of the exhibition I visited this time, "Camp," isn't the camping you might imagine for outdoor activities. Instead, it's based on the concept from "Notes on Camp," published in 1964 by Susan Sontag, a renowned writer from New York.

This aesthetic seems to encompass concepts like "artificial, ornate, and visually appealing things" and "excessive fashion that borders on bad taste." Yet, the dresses on display at the exhibition are all first-class creations.

Ignoring everything else, I headed straight for the camp section. Was pink the theme color? The exhibition space was unified in pink, heightening my anticipation.

The first part features historical garments worn by European aristocracy in the Middle Ages, alongside designer dresses created based on them. Among them were pieces by the late Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Fashion Finds Its Dream in Excess

As I moved into the latter half of the exhibition, dresses adorned with excessive ornamentation appeared, reminiscent of the Met Gala held in conjunction with the exhibition. This is truly the essence of fashion, isn't it? It makes you feel that fashion is what allows us to dream.

This dress, buried in butterflies, is just too adorable! It was designed by Jeremy Scott for House of Moschino.

Designs like these, which you could never wear in everyday life, are what give us dreams through fashion. When you look closely at the details, you become captivated by the exquisite craftsmanship.

While simply admiring the gorgeous dresses is enjoyable, I found myself contemplating the concept of "camp." An aesthetic that is artificial, ornate, and could even be perceived as bad taste, is being celebrated, and it carries a message. In New York, I feel this even more strongly: there is diversity, individuality… Perhaps the concept of "camp" gains focus precisely in a chaotic society.

Simply put, there's a refreshing quality to witnessing something that pushes boundaries, and perhaps everyone possesses that sensibility. If fashion design becomes too restrained and loses its momentum, losing its dreams, the era itself becomes uninteresting. It felt like an exhibition that revealed how designers have always had the concept of "camp" in their subconscious.

Don't Miss the Limited Edition Souvenirs!

Items from trendy brands like "Off-White," as well as "Gucci," which is sponsoring this exhibition, and original "camp" souvenirs are sure to have a premium feel. The exhibition runs until September 8th, so please visit if you find yourself in New York.

CAMP: Notes on Fashion - The Met
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2019/camp-notes-on-fashion

Reiko
An editor, writer, and coordinator living in New York (also planning new ventures). While deeply loving champagne and travel, I find myself nearing forty, still dreaming of the ideal man. What I seek in a man is chivalry ♥︎