New Must See Exhibit at the MET 

By Kennedy Elsnes 

“America is not like a blanket--one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt--many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread.” - Jesse Jackson 1984

This quote can be found in the immensely popular and newly opened “A Lexicon of Fashion” art exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of art. The exhibit opened shortly after the 2021 Met Gala in September, and is meant to represent American fashion by encompassing its variety and vocabulary through 12 different sections, and over 100 different garments. As the Jackson quote mentions, the exhibit is inspired by a quilt, emphasizing American fashion as vast, interconnected, and unique. Each garment is characterized by a single word and defined, highlighting each piece as its own patch in the American blanket. The Garments in the exhibit vary in time and style including Andre Walker’s Pendleton Woolen Mills garment manufactured in 1863 to Rihanna’s 2020 Savage X Fenty lingerie ensemble, emphasizing not only American fashion of today but also of the past. Andrew Bolton, the Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of the Costume Institute, is the creator of the exhibit, and emphasizes the way this represents America. Bolton mentioned that 40% of the designers are people of color, highlighting the variety of backgrounds, styles, and perspectives that can be found. Each garment is sectioned off in its own box making each design its own piece to be understood. The second part of the exhibit will be opening in May 2022 and will be titled “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.” Overall, this is an amazing place to attend if you find yourself visiting New York City and are looking for a fashion-oriented activity to do. The exhibit is thought provoking, but also a great place if you are looking to garner inspiration. 

Courtesy of Vogue and L'Officiel