The fact that Columbia students are politically inclined doesn’t mean they can’t have style. In fact, the most fashionable museum in the city, The Museum at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), would disagree completely.
Following an exhibit on the history of Cuban-American fashion designer Isabel Toledo, the exhibit “Fashion & Politics” is an eclectic exploration of the role of fashion in over 200 years of politics.
As for why this particular subject was chosen, curators Jennifer Farley and Melissa Marra explained, ”We were initially inspired by the idea of conveying messages through fashion. Early on, we found that the topic of politics as expressed through fashion was both timely and rich in information.”
It is an often overlooked fact that fashion is an ever-present force in politics. This exhibit takes politics to encompass not only what we think of as traditional two-party politics, but also cultural and social changes since 1800. Especially noteworthy are a few items that express extreme patriotism, such as a woman’s garment printed with an all-over American flag motif from the late 1800s, Catherine Malandrino’s incredibly popular Flag Dress, and circa 1930 LaValle sandals in red, white, and blue leather with golden star appliqués. A controversial Vivienne Tam suit with a Chairman Mao print is on display, as is a Sprouse textile, featuring words from the Declaration of Independence scrawled in orange over a camouflage design.
A small Obama installation includes a version of the Jason Wu magenta silk sheath Michelle Obama wore for the cover of Vogue. According to Farley and Marra, Michelle Obama “represents the new, modern first lady. Her contemporary and accessible style appeals to a wide variety of women.”
A fun, yellow, sequined dress with Obama’s visage on the front, designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac—a version of which was worn by Katy Perry when she hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards—is also on display.
“Fashion is evidence of how people think and behave at a particular period in time,” the curators said. “Certainly politicians in the public arena today are conscious of how they appear … and how their clothing helps them appeal to their constituents. This is especially true in the age of 24-hour news networks and constant media scrutiny.”
Despite the element of wackiness that sometimes accompanies fashion, especially couture, this exhibition is not an eye-roller. Fashion has a considerable function in politics, it has been used as a creative agent to express and communicate specific political ideologies. Furthermore, fashion can transmit messages of social change and social values, both of which are important to those in the political spectrum.
The Museum at FIT is located at 27th Street and Seventh Avenue, one block from the 28th Street stop on the 1 train, and admission is free.
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