Vanitas brings McQueen, Schiaparelli and Lagerfeld to the Bass

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You don't need to step into a time machine at the Met to see Schiaparelli and McQueen garments; they'll be on display right here in Miami starting March 13. Vanitas: Fashion and Art is a new exhibit at the Bass Museum of Art curated by Harold Koda, the curator in charge of the Costume Institute at the Met, so you know it's going to be first class. But before we go into specifics, you must first understand the theme of vanitas. It examines vanity, narcism and the materialistic pleasures of life, all in the face of death. Naturally, we suppose, fashion seems a valid medium in which to portray the idea, especially when you're mixing garments with gruesome art pieces.

So what should you expect at this exhibit? Over half of it consists of avant garde, ready-to-wear and haute couture garments by Isaac Mizrahi, Elsa Schiaparelli, Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld and Yohji Yamamoto. There are also vintage copies of the December 1969 issue of Vogue, which includes spreads by legendary fashion photographer Irving Penn, as well as other photography and film works that juxtapose these luxurious garments.

One standout piece has to be an exoskeleton by Iris van Herpen, which is made of polyamide and leather and produced by 3D modeling software. But if you're just looking to stare at something beautiful, Schiaparelli's mirrored, Surrealist "Evening Jacket" is sure to catch your eye. Tickets run from $8 to $10 and the exhibit will run until June 20.

This is the second exhibit Bass has held that features fashion at a headlining level (the first featured jewelry created by major artists) and with Harold Koda guest curating the exhibit, we're excited to see what else Bass has in store for the fashion admirers of our city. An impossible conversation between Diane and Chanel? The not-so-savage beauty of Halston? Oh, the possibilities.
· Bass Museum of Art [Official Site]