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Photo: Courtesy of nyunews.com
The Fashion Institute of Technology currently has an ongoing exhibit from now until April 18 called Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the ’70s.
The ’70s itself was a significant time period in fashion. Sandwiched between the counterculture of the 1960s and the opulent 1980s, the way clothes were designed, made, distributed and consumed all changed. It was also the demise of haute couture’s reign, and the ascension of designer-led conglomerates. Because of the poor economic standing of the country at the time, fashion reflected the times. Eclectic individuality blended with somber modernity mirrored the economic mood during the early 1970s.
Yves Saint Laurent and Halston were the big names of the decade, and no others defined and dominated the 1970s like they did. They were the era’s most influential and celebrated clothing creators, becoming celebrities in their own right.
The exhibit itself celebrates these two major designers who helped define the glamorous fashions seen in the 1970s. It is also the first exhibition to analyze the way each designer dealt with similar themes and aesthetics during the height of their careers.
The two designers are equally represented, showcasing approximately 80 ensembles and 20 accessories that are arranged thematically in an environment designed to evoke this dynamic era in history. It also investigates how both Saint Laurent and Halston arrived at their current iconic styles by exploring themes of menswear, exoticism, and historicism during the 1970s. With Saint Laurent known for his sense of drama and fantasy, and Halston for his modernism and minimalism, the aesthetic similarities between the clothes now versus the 1970s is undeniable.
The museum draws exclusively from its Halston archives, one of the most comprehensive records of his work in the world, as well as an impressive array of Yves Saint Laurent pieces donated from important clients, fashion editors, friends and colleagues of Saint Laurent.
Any fashionistas or those simply interested in history or creative innovation, this exhibit is for you. For more information on the exhibit and the museum, please visit their website.
-by Jackie Hart