A couple months ago, while interning in NYC, it happened to be one of my best friend’s birthdays and we decided to go to the Museum of Art and Design on a Saturday afternoon after brunch. No surprise here, but I was really excited to see their current fashion exhibit. Counter-Couture: Handmade Fashion in an American Counterculture celebrates the handmade fashion and style of the 1960s and 1970s.
It was my first time at this museum. The MAD is a really aesthetically pleasing building in Manhattan, near Central Park. The inside has different exhibits on each floor. It’s not huge and overwhelming, it’s a really great size for an afternoon trip. This exhibit in particular was on one of the top floors, so it was the last thing we saw. It made for a fabulous finale to a very nice day in the city.
The room was filled with tie-dyed crochet, patchwork denim, and metallic costumes. It was very hippie avant-garde: filled with spirit, a sense of freedom, and vibrant colors. The layout of the exhibit was very organized and not crowded at all, making it easy to focus on one piece or collection at a time. The statement jewelry and protest buttons added even more depth and it truly felt like I traveled back in time. I also think this exhibit is very timely, given our less-than-typical political climate. I love exploring the ways that fashion has made such powerful statements in the past and seeing how reflective it is of a certain time, place, and/or atmosphere.
The exhibit will be up through August 20, so if you have the chance to check it out then you definitely should!
