PUNK: Chaos to Couture-- the upcoming must-see exhibit descending on the Met from May 9th to August 14th 2013. In the midst of planning my escape to New York to attend this exhibition, I thought I'd share with you a little taste of what this multi-media experience will have to offer.
The museum will host seven galleries, each dedicated to a specific punk personality, examining how the anti-establishment style has influenced high fashion since its debut in the 70s, to its lingering impact today. One of these galleries will be devoted to the Pioneers of Punk, Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, and their London boutique, "SEX." Owned by McLaren, the shop sold a selection of tattered tees with provocative images and slogans designed by Miss Westwood. Considered obscene and indecent by older generations, the flack the shop received only fueled the couple's rebellion further, as they began drawing inspiration from not only bikers and bondage-wear, but fetishists and prostitutes to boot.
When McLaren launched The Sex Pistols in 1975 (featuring members who once worked in his shop), the band became a new form of promotion for his burgeoning brand, courageously "corrupting" the age's youth while clad in loads of leather, spiked dog collars, and even spikier hair. Piercings, bike chains, razor blades and safety pins became the iconic elements of this metal movement, and carry on today by the designers daring enough to coax its comeback. The event itself will be somewhat of a rebellion against the typical museum showcasing art in silence, as this exhibition promises a multisensory experience featuring music and footage from fashion's most riotous and revolutionary era.
written by Jamie Lee Reardin