Put anything side-by-side and you're going to be able to pick out the similarities and difference between the two. So what about fashion? It may not be so clear-cut as to which is the feminine piece and which is the masculine piece. The "
His & Hers" exhibit,
Alexander McQueen, evening dress, black leather, white silk, black tulle, fall 2008, France, museum purchase. Photograph ŠThe Museum at FIT.
which is at The Museum at FIT until May 10, 2011, takes men's and women's fashion from the 18th-century to present, places them side-by-side and exposes how similar they can actually be.
Although stereotypical female fashion includes skirts and dresses while male fashion is typically associated with well-tailored suits, the "His & Hers" exhibit makes it clear that over the course of fashion's history there has been quite a few pieces of fashion that blur the typical gender fashion lines. Some of the examples on display include a man's dressing gown from the mid-1800's, men's and women's pantsuits from the 1960's that look remarkably similar to each other, a man's skirt by Jean Paul Gaultier and an introduction to the woman's power suit. In addition to Jean Paul Gaultier, you'll also recognize the names of many other world-renowned fashion icons including Yves Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen.
The "His & Hers" exhibit at The Museum at FIT consists of over 100 textiles, accessories and garments that are in exceedingly wonderful condition. If you've ever wanted to learn more about the history of fashion, this is the exhibit to start with. It's an outstanding visual display of fashion history that you won't soon forget. Admission to is free, so take a few hours to explore the museum's vast collection of fashion history.
Photo Source:
Photograph ŠThe Museum at FIT.
Photograph reprinted with permission from the
Fashion Institute of Technology
