Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination Gallery Views—The Met Cloisters

MEC Hostess Exhibition Overview

Architectural Inspirations in Fashion

• The MEC hostess exhibition is themed around specific courses from France, integrating gardens and thematic galleries.

• The Romanesque gallery features garments inspired by the architecture of sacred and secular spaces, including a cape reflecting Romanesque arches.

• A focus on the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church is highlighted in the pointed Weymouth Chapel, showcasing Lentz Yaga's iconic wedding dress.

Historical Connections in Design

• Designers like Clay McConnell created dresses inspired by monastic orders, with examples such as an elastic dress tied at the waist.

• John Paul Gautier's work draws inspiration from stained glass art, specifically a piece resembling a famous painting of the Virgin and Child.

Cultural Reflections in Fashion

• The Gothic Chapel displays gowns influenced by 1980s British Gothic subculture, characterized by dark colors.

• In the glass gallery, garments relate to medieval garden plantings; one notable dress by Valentino incorporates Christian symbolism through floral designs.

Artistic Masterpieces and Symbolism

• The Treasury showcases masterworks of medieval art alongside garments like Alexander McQueen's crown of thorns from his Dante collection.

• Philip Treacy’s hats are featured in relation to religious themes, particularly referencing the crowning of the Virgin.

Tapestries and Their Influence on Modern Design

• The unicorn tapestries gallery includes a dress by Simon Tom Brown that creatively incorporates elements from historical tapestries into modern fashion design.