Thread by @museumatFIT

TODAY: Our 21st academic symposium, Exhibiting Fashion, will explore the history of fashion curating. Follow the conversation using #FashionCulture and watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #50YearsofMFIT

Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of MFIT, opening today’s symposium. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

The late Bill Cunningham was astonished by our Paul Poiret, King of Fashion exhibition and the mise en scène #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

The exhibition Fashion and Surrealism, then and now. #FashionCulture #50YearaofMFIT

A favorite - Gothic: Dark Glamour explored the goth subculture. #fashionculture #50YearsofMFIT

Colleen Hill, MFIT curator of costume and accessories, notes that all of our exhibition tours are given by curatorial staff. #fashionculture #50YearsofMFIT

An image of our past exhibition Faking It, which explored the history of both authorized and unauthorized copying. These ensembles are inspired by the artist Mondrian. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Colleen Hill discusses the exhibition, Fairy Tale Fashion. This particular set explored the story of The Little Red Riding Hood. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Black Fashion Designers featured a pink trapunto dress by @MIMIPLANGE inspired by the traditional art of African scarification. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

A question from the audience on accessibility of garments. Valerie Steele: There are many NY laws we follow. We also work with our architect to position objects that are close and safe enough to see but not touch. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

The purpose of an exhibition’s mise en scène is to appeal to a wide range of audiences. MFIT has 3 galleries, 2 of which are static. Curators work with exhibition designers to bring their shows to life. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Now Speaking: Dr. Julia Petrov “The History of Fashion Curation” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Wax work was a really popular entertainment. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Petrov identifying what she believes to be the first fashion exhibition. Clothes from famous people dressed on wax mannequins. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Before specialized conservation mannequins, many museums relied on shop mannequins that were commercially available. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Many exhibitions now showcase historical fashions from various regions. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Now Speaking: Dr. Alexandra Palmer “Fashion Exhibitions: The Good, the Bad, and the Pointless” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

In the age of google images, it is actually quite difficult to curate. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Should fashion exhibitions be entertaining? Yes.
Should they be educational? Yes.
#FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Palmer gives a list of things to consider when visiting an exhibition: what is the point, what does the curator want you to know, did you learn anything? #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Can location inform the context? Does it matter where an exhibition is held? Questions Palmer asks. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Does size matter? Palmer acknowledges exhibitions are getting bigger. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Does design matter? Absolutely! #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Very cool rubric Palmer created for an exhibition that highlighted important aspects of an object. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Now Speaking: José Teunissen “Different Ways of Exhibiting Fashion in the Museum” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Curation can provide insight into how fashion is interwoven in history and culture. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

New stories, new values, and getting away from the glamour side of exhibitions. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Teunissen staged this show at an old mill factory. So many environmental things to consider when staging a show outside of a museum. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Now Speaking: Marie Riegels Melchoir “Fashion and Dress Museology” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Fashion is not just a museum topic but integrated into the Design Museum of Denmark’s attraction. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Defining fashion and dress museology as shared by Marie Riegels Melchoir. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Now Speaking: Dr. Christopher Breward “Scholarship and Curation” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

“Everyone curates now,” says Breward. With good leadership, we have to own the term.

The age of the self-defined museum and gallery elites is over. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Curation will continue to take place in specific spaces. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

A curator in the 21st century must really know what access means, says Breward. Working effectively in partnerships, networks of designers, artists, academics, institutions, and with a variety of audiences. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

For fashion curators, identifying fashion in its historical, material, virtual, and future forms through radical approaches to acquisition and cataloguing will remain a primary responsibility and challenge. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Interesting point from Breward: The sustainable curator is the surviving curator. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Breward ending the first half of the symposium on the legacy of curatorship. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

We’re back! Now Speaking: Amy de la Haye “Teaching Fashion Curation” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Amy de la Haye runs a workshop on creating narratives within the museum where groups have to make an exhibition for a venue around a particular object given to them. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Various ways students recreate exhibitions: models and video adaptations. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Now Speaking: Dr. Marco Pecorari “Contemporary Fashion Exhibitions in Paris” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

What is the role of fashion museums in France, asks Pecorari. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

A fashion museum within a fashion house. Saint Laurent marked designs for collecting with a ‘M’ for museum. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

An artists archived handrails incorporated into the design of the stairs tying commercialism into museum space. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Now Speaking: Simona Segre Reinach “Fashion Exhibitions in Italy” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

A few facts about the history of fashion in Italy. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Now Speaking: Elizabeth Way and Joy L. Bivins“ The African Diaspora in Fashion Exhibitions” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Lois K. Alexander founded the Black Fashion Museum in Harlem. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

The @googlearts platform is another resource to view fashion exhibitions as well. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Bivins originally did not have the desire to be a curator. But with a push from her advisor, she entered the field as an exhibition designer. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Fashion exhibitions brings an audience, notes Bivins. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Ebony Fashion Fair was a traveling exhibition, a community event that brought out the best in fashion. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Ebony Fashion Fair created a platform for models, hairdressers, and tailors. “An all in entertainment event” as described by Bivins. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

The mannequins from the Chicago History Museum’s Inspiring Beauty exhibition were incredible. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Wow! The garments never came off the mannequins. Each mannequin was crated individually. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Now Speaking: Circe Henestrosa, Ana Elena Mallet, and Tanya Melendez-Escalante, “Narratives About Mexico in Fashion Exhibitions” Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Ana Elena Mallet’s Rethinking Tradition exhibition brought Mexican designs to Washington DC. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Circe Henestrosa, the curator of the popular Frida Kahlo exhibition now on view at the Brooklyn Museum. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

The exhibition in London was the first time Frida Kahlo’s work left Mexico and now its on view in NYC. Kahlo spent some time in NYC and the new exhibition contextualizes her time here. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Ana Elena Mallet discussing the challenges of showing traditional Mexican dress on mannequins not made for that type of display. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Last Presentation: Judith Clark, "Experimentation in Fashion Exhibitions" Watch live: ow.ly/qhNy30nYj6U #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Clark commissioned @solangeknowles for sound tests from the Chloé archives. #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT

Clark closes the symposium asking, “how much do we need?” In regard to this depiction of Adam and Eve, do we need the snakes? Do we need the animals? #FashionCulture #50YearsofMFIT