Did multiple hours of waiting time and thousands of people stand between you and the “Savage Beauty” Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute? If so, don’t fret, there will be plenty of McQueen and likely (though one never knows) less of a crowd when The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) opens its Daphne Guinness exhibition in September.
Guinness, one of the few, if not only, women whose wardrobe could put that of Anna Dello Russo and Carine Roitfeld to shame, not only owns the late Isabella Blow‘s entire clothing collection (Blow was credited with having discovered McQueen) but Guinness was one of McQueen’s notable supporters and an avid collector of the the late designer’s work.
Taking place from September 16, 2011 through January 7, 2012, the exhibition will include about 100 garments and accessories from Guinness’ personal collection, among which there will be more than two dozen McQueen garments, none of which have ever been displayed. Films, videos, and images of and by Guinness will also be included alongside Haute Couture pieces from Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Lacroix, and Valentino, as well as demi-couture by Azzedine Alaia, Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, and Rick Owens, and pieces from avant garde talents like Gareth Pugh and even a few pieces that Guinness has designed herself.
Among the extraordinary accessories pieces exhibitors can expect are many created in collaboration with Guinness herself, including Philip Treacy hats, Shaun Leane “armor” jewelry, and one-of-a-kind higher than high Christian Louboutin and Noritaka Tatehana heels.
