Style and Fashion
Past Is Present, Revival Jewelry: "Reviving and Reinterpreting Antique Styles For a New Age"
Revival jewelry became fashionable in the 19th century, as opportunities for travel increased; archaeological digs unearthed ancient treasures and newly founded museums (including the MFA) and international expositions showcased discoveries from antiquity. Surrounded by this history, jewelers were among the many artists who found inspiration in the myriad of freshly available visual resources, incorporating them into their work. While jewelry from the 19th and early 20th centuries explored many revival styles, the exhibition largely focuses on four: archaeological (inspired by newly excavated art and artifacts), as well as Renaissance, Egyptian and Classical. more »
Revealing My Age: All Kinds of Factors Are Blabbing My Age to the World at Large
Rose Madeline Mula writes: As if my wrinkles aren't enough of a giveaway, all kinds of other factors are blabbing my age to the world at large. My choice of music is another dead giveaway. The lyrics of my favorite songs tell sweet, romantic stories. No political statements, no anti-establishment rants, and not a single obscenity. Furthermore, the singers can actually sing — no screeching., whispering, or special-effect enhancements, I can understand the lyrics, and the melodies are melodic. more »
The 'Stereoscopic' Vision of Dressmakers; Are Dressmakers Drawn to the Trade Because of Their Visual Stereo-acuity?
Stereoscopic vision is the brain's ability to decode the flat 2D optical information received by both eyes to give us the depth of perception needed to thread a needle, catch a ball, park a car and generally navigate a 3D world. Using computerized perceptual tasks, researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Geneva, Switzerland, tested the stereoscopic vision of dressmakers and other professionals and found dressmakers to be the most eagle-eyed. more »
Degas and the Millinery Trade, High-fashion Hats and the Women Who Created Them; My Aunt's Creation
The exhibition is the first to examine the height of the millinery trade in Paris, from around 1875 to 1914, as reflected in the art of the Impressionists and French milliners. From the start of the Third Republic until the outbreak of World War I, there were around 1,000 milliners working in what was then considered the fashion capital of the world. Degas and the Impressionists' representations of millinery became a central theme within the broader avant-garde ambition to showcase the diversity of Parisian modern life. more »