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| Suit and Bustier, 1990 Broken pinstripe slashed jacket and trousers, peach/lycra corset Designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier for Madonna in the 1990 "Blond Ambition" World Tour |  | | Boots, 1977 Blue Leather with inset scrolls of white leather detail and high wooden heels Worn by George Clinton |
 | It's nearly fifty years since rock & roll first rattled the world with the new sounds and outrageous clothes that thrilled teenagers and horrified their parents. This month in New York, the "Rock Style" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art puts the spotlight on trendsetters in the music industry--from the rockabilly swagger of Elvis Presley, to the hip hop style of 1990s phenomenon, Puff Daddy. The relationship between fashion and popular music is a long and lively one, from Elvis in gold lame and Sid Vicious in safety pins to Cher in Bob Mackie and Madonna in Galliano. The rootsy threads of Fats Domino and Buddy Guy, George Clinton's funky platform boots, and the "metal kabuki" caricatures of Kiss take us on a journey through musical history and its visual "greatest hits." |  |
| Suit, 1963 Brown wool with black velvet collar Tailored by D.A. Millings. Worn by John Lennon on the cover of Parlophone EP "The Beatles' Hits" | Evening Dress, ca. 1996-97 Silvertone mesh with black cotton lace trim Designed by Gianni Versace for Tina Turner |
 | The show is a joint effort by the Met's Costume Institute and Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, where the show moves in May and runs through September 10. Some fashions are on loan from the private collections of the artists, such as David Bowie's Union Jack jacket designed with Alexander McQueen for the "Earthling" album tour, or Madonna's pointed peach corset and slashed broken pinstripe suit designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier for the 1990 "Blond Ambition" world tour. |  |
| Men's Jacket, 1997 | Hooded velvet cape, ca. 1969 Designed and tye-dyed by Annie Thomas for John Sebastian |
 Dress, 1995 Designed by Comme des Garcons for Bjork in the "Isobelle" video | "Rock Styles" was launched with the Met's annual "Party of the Year" gala fund-raiser, hosted by sponsor Tommy Hilfiger and his co-chairs Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue, and Aerin Lauder, Director of Creative Product Development at Estee Lauder USA and Canada. Jewel-bedecked socialites rubbed shoulders with leather-clad rockers in the museum's spectacular grand lobby, glittering with candles and crystal and full of flowers. Glammed up for the party were screen stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Hurley, Jerry Seinfeld with fiancee Jessica Sklar, Christina Ricci, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Anjelica Huston, and Steven Seagal and recording artists including Whitney Houston and husband Bobby Brown, Debbie Harry, Steven Tyler, Lil' Kim and Mary J. Blige. Designers such as Hilfiger, Donatella Versace, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Michael Kors and Diane von Furstenberg mixed it up with supermodels Naomi Campbell, Amber Valetta, Iman, Kate Moss, Lauren Hutton and Mark Vanderloo. Actress Liv Tyler and designer Stella McCartney admired the now iconic outfits of their fathers Steven Tyler of Arrowsmith and Beatle Paul McCartney. Giant projections of concert footage of bands such as the Rolling Stones, U2 and James Brown and performances by Sean "Puffy" Combs, rapper Q-Tip and "Mambo No. 5" chart-topper Lou Bega kept the noise levels up and the crowd jumping. "Rock & roll and the artists behind the music have had a significant impact on fashion and style throughout rock history," said Tommy Hilfiger. "Their innovative and, at times, daring clothing, has broken ground in style, evolved fashion trends, and made them image icons recognized around the world. The show looks at the flannel-shirt and blue jean working class appeal of Bruce Springsteen, the rebellious anti-fashion thrift store threads of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles' stylish suits from the early days. The costumes and theatrics of David Bowie's character Ziggy Stardust travel through to the androgynous techno-fantasy regalia of Marilyn Manson. The cross-pollination of musicians with artists and designers bring us Grace Jones and Madonna with Keith Haring, Elton John and Cher with Bob Mackie, and Madonna again with a litany of fashion icons -- Jean-Paul Gaultier, Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler and Giorgio Armani. "Rock Styles" takes us on a ride through the unique, sometimes eccentric vision of musical performers and their impact on youth culture and haute couture. And it never forgets that most universal symbol of rock and roll fashion -- the black leather jacket. |  Suit, 1984 Pink and black leather suit designed by Keith Haring for Madonna in the "Lucky Star" video |
www.Dishmag.com / Issue 4 - January 2009
