MUSEUM BLOG.....FIT Museum "Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition BLOG RECAP

Pink Exhibition--Nick Verreos at the "Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition, FIT Museum, NYC

Several weeks back, while spending time on a project in NY, I had the opportunity to check out a wonderful fashion exhibition at FIT. I was excited to get a chance to visit the "Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" fashion exhibition. The extensive exhibition features approximately 80 ensembles from the 18th century to the present, with examples by designers and brands such as Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Alessandro Michele of Gucci, Jeremy Scott of Moschino, and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons. "Pink" opened on September 7, 2018 and runs until January 5, 2019 and it is FREE...

Atmosphere at the "Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

The exhibition is divided into two sections. The first gallery focuses primarily on the theme “Pretty in Pink” with approximately 35 examples of traditionally “feminine” pink clothes organized chronologically from the mid-19th century through the 20th century. 

1857 two-piece silk taffeta dress and man's suit--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

It begins by juxtaposing an 1857 bright pink crinoline dress with a black 1860 man’s suit, illustrating the feminization of color in the 19th century. Subsequent dresses demonstrate how different shades of pink came in and out of fashion, evoking different ideas about femininity...

 (L)Silk velvet, metallic lace, silk crepe chiffon dress by Robert (1912-1914); (R) Silk chiffon evening cape by Paquin (1897)--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

1920's Pink--Jean Patou silk chiffon evening dress, 1923 (far left)--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Around 1900, for example, pale pinks implied delicate, aristocratic femininity, while by 1912 a vibrant cherry pink indicated a more exotic image. The 1920s, famous for the Little Black Dress, actually saw a rise in popularity for a range of pinks, crowned by Schiaparelli’s aptly named Shocking Pink of the late 1930s...

Shocking Pink--(L) Bright pink silk crepe gown from Russian-American fashion designer Valentina, 1933; (R) Elsa Schiaparelli pink gown, 1937--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Schiaparelli: Then and Now--(Top photo) Elsa Schiaparelli Silk Taffeta Embroidered Dinner Jacket and Long Skirt, Spring 1947; (Lower photo) Schiaparelli Paris Silk Chiffon Gathered Open-back Gown, Fall/Winter 2015 Collection--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

18th Century Robe a la Francaise Dress--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

In contrast to the chronological layout of the introductory gallery, the main gallery is organized thematically to highlight key concepts in the history of pink. The first section, “Pompadour Pink,” features several 18th-century ensembles, including a woman’s pink robe à la française (photo above) a man’s pink habit à la française, and a man’s pink banyan...

 Christian Dior "Venus" Dress of Silk Tulle, Sequins, Rhinestones, Crystal and Net, 1949-1950--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Charles James "Tree" Gown with "Petal" Stole, 1955--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

1950 Pink--Christian Dior Silk Moire Gown, 1950 (L); Traina-Norell Salmon Pink Duchesse Coat-Gown, 1950 (R)--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Feathered Pink--Feathered Silk One Shoulder Gown from Givenchy, 1968 (L)--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Dior by Yves Saint Laurent Pink Pouf--Silk Taffeta Dress by Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior, 1960--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

The 1950s are notorious as the era of the “feminine mystique” when gender stereotyping was reinforced throughout society. The 1960s continued to witness the popularity of many “pretty in pink” dresses, such as a 1960 cocktail dress by Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior (photo above)...

 Yves Saint Laurent Silk Velvet Gown with Dramatic Pink Satin Bow, Autumn/Winter Haute Couture 1983--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Copy of Ralph Lauren Pink Satin Gown worn by Gwyneth Paltrow at the 71st Academy Awards in 1999--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

A Pink Tableaux--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Comme des Garcons Pink--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Pink Ensemble worn by Janelle Monae in her "Pynk" music video, designed by Duran Lantik--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Barbie Pink--Pink Cropped Moto Jacket, Pencil Skirt and Bag, Moschino Spring 2015 RTW by Jeremy Scott (L, Top Photo); Moschino Barbie (R, Top Photo)--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

Finally, it was really great to see items loaned for this "Pink" Exhibition to FIT, courtesy of FIDM Museum at my Alma Mater and College where I am the Co-Chair of Fashion Design--The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM:

Cotton and Silk Satin Corset, Silk Taffeta Petticoat, loan courtesy of FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--"Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum

If you are in NY and LOVE fashion, check out this fabulous exhibition--Nick Verreos at the "Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color" Exhibition FIT Museum