CHAOS TO COUTURE

The Metropolitan Museum of Art opens its latest show to the public on Thursday, May 9^th when it opens the doors of the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall to the public for a show that is sure to prove yet another in a string of blockbusters, which seemed to be incrementally hyped since the now legendary McQueen retrospective some two years ago. The “official” opening night of the show was on Monday night, May 6th, with Anna Wintour’s yearly “Met Ball” Gala that boasts a guest list that reads like an A-List yellow pages for the worlds of fashion & Hollywood.

The show, which was previewed as a breakfast reveal during New York Fashion Week in February, features iconic pieces from the runway as well as the streets of London in the period from the early 1970’s to present & is understandably heavy on British labels as London is arguably where the movement not only got some of its early roots, but has certainly taken hold in a stronger, more lasting manifestation than any of the other fashion centers in Europe or here in NY.

That’s not to say that the other fashion centers aren’t seen as important in the history of PUNK’s transition from anarchy inspired irreverence to highbrow runway homage. In fact, quite the contrary is the case, as the show begins in the first gallery which is staged to be the mensroom of the famed CBGB’s nightclub which was located on the Bowery in New York City, which, perhaps a bit prophetically has now been transformed into an upscale clothing boutique under the John Varvatos moniker. But alas, the visitor is soon taken to 1970’s London in the 2^nd gallery & onward from there.

Some 100 looks later, after passing through the “D.I.Y.” section as well as the “Made to Measure” gallery, the visitor emerges with the fashion historical ammunition to identify PUNK in its next incarnation, whatever it may be. Since most of the designers included in the show are still working & creating, chances are, it won’t be long until the movement will be spotted in a torn seam, shredded hemline, or biting graphic on a runway soon.