Displaying fashion: the scenography of fashion in retail and museums

Fashion retailers and fashion exhibitions are at a pivotal moment in 2019 as both accommodate changes including the decrease of in-person shopping and the increased visitorship of fashion exhibitions. At the heart of both spaces, however, is the display of fashion –whether simple or grandiose. This project looks further at the similarities of displaying fashion in both spaces, with possible consequences and potential futures for each space. It brings together extensive literature and field visits to nearly 100 different spaces, with a creative installation of a third type of space integrating both museums and retailers as a possible solution for the future

Displaying fashion: the scenography of fashion in retail and museums

Fashion retailers and fashion exhibitions are at a pivotal moment in 2019 as both accommodate changes including the decrease of in-person shopping and the increased visitorship of fashion exhibitions. At the heart of both spaces, however, is the display of fashion –whether simple or grandiose. This project looks further at the similarities of displaying fashion in both spaces, with possible consequences and potential futures for each space. It brings together extensive literature and field visits to nearly 100 different spaces, with a creative installation of a third type of space integrating both museums and retailers as a possible solution for the future

The status of fashion: towards an autonomous existence

The debate on if fashion can be considered art has been a topic of discussion for many years now. This MRP looks at reasons and factors that explain the greater acceptance of fashion as a form of art despite the disputed opinions on that question. While some scholars stressed what fashion can share with art, such as aesthetic qualities or strong conceptual frameworks, others pointed out the commercial implications of fashion to discredit its artistic potential or its presence in museums. Through an analysis of selected works from contemporary designers Viktor & Rolf, Alexander McQueen, and Hussein Chalayan, an examination of the phenomenon of the popularity of fashion exhibitions in art museums, and a study of the way the museum sees fashion through their collecting policies and curators’ opinions, this research clarifies why fashion gained a higher status in the Western culture despite its uneven reception in academia and the art world.

The status of fashion: towards an autonomous existence

The debate on if fashion can be considered art has been a topic of discussion for many years now. This MRP looks at reasons and factors that explain the greater acceptance of fashion as a form of art despite the disputed opinions on that question. While some scholars stressed what fashion can share with art, such as aesthetic qualities or strong conceptual frameworks, others pointed out the commercial implications of fashion to discredit its artistic potential or its presence in museums. Through an analysis of selected works from contemporary designers Viktor & Rolf, Alexander McQueen, and Hussein Chalayan, an examination of the phenomenon of the popularity of fashion exhibitions in art museums, and a study of the way the museum sees fashion through their collecting policies and curators’ opinions, this research clarifies why fashion gained a higher status in the Western culture despite its uneven reception in academia and the art world.

Exhibiting Transformative Fashion: Digital Interventions to Enhance Display and Interpretation

While the issues of displaying fashion in motion in museum exhibitions have been addressed with various interventions to animate displays, the challenge of successfully presenting transformative fashion in exhibitions has received less attention. With more contemporary designers creating conceptual fashion that is transformative and technological in nature, this article discusses a research project that proposes a series of digital interventions to best display these garments. With the use of digital technology in fashion exhibitions becoming commonplace, this article aims to explore this application and the ways in which it can be used to greater effect to enhance the performance of transformation in the presentation of fashion. The use of digital technology to improve and advance opportunities for inclusivity and accessibility in reading fashion in exhibitions will also be demonstrated.