The New York City Traveler

Fashion designers have always been fascinated by the idea of how clothing can transform the body, and even the perceived character, of the wearer.”  Giorgio Armani 

Fashion is inspired by many things and art is not just two-dimensional objects for your viewing pleasure.  The newest exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and part of the museum’s Costume Institute, looks as how movie and comic book superheroes have inspired fashion.  Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy displays over 60 clothing ensembles, including movie costumes, active sportswear, and couture.

The exhibit is divided into very eight very distinct themes that discuss the key concepts of superheroism and their expression in fashion:

• The Graphic Body  Superman’s “S” has influenced many designer logos
• The Paradoxical Body  Catwoman’s “alpha-cat and omega kitten” sex appeal is seen in women’s fashion
• The Patriotic Body  Captain America and Wonder Woman made the stars and stripes fashionable
• The Virile Body  The padded shoulders of the Hulk has served to influence men’s fashion
• The Aerodynamic Body  Functional necessity is behind Nike’s “Swift Suit” and SPEEDO’s “Fastskin” 
• The Armored Body  Muscle and metal were the inspiration behind Thierry Mugler’s famous “Motorcycle Corset”
• The Mutant Body  Like Rebecca Romijin as Mystique in X-Men, the unfamiliar and unorthodox is still beauty… even in fashion    
• The Post-Modern Body  Skulls and other symbols of mortality from Ghost Rider have made their way onto the runways

In addition to the haute couture by designers like Giorgio Armani, Thierry Mugler, and Alexander McQueen, among others, movie costumes are displayed, such as Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman suit and Toby Maguire’s Spider-Man suit.

If you feel inspired by the exhibit, stop by the museum store where there is “superhero” merchandise on display like a spiderweb scarf. 

Location:  Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) (map) 212-535-7710

Getting There: 4, 5, 6 to 86th Street

Dates of Exhibit:  Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy will be on exhibit May 7, 2008 through September 1, 2008 

Hours:  Tue-Thur 9:30am-5:30pm; Fri-Sat 9:30am-9pm; Sun 9:30am-5:30pm; Closed Monday (except for select Met Mondays)

Cost: Suggested Donation Adult $20; Senior (65 and older) $15; Student $10; Members Free; Children (under 12 with adult) Free. Includes same-day admission to The Cloisters.

Photo credit (left to right top to bottom): Thierry Mugler (French, born 1948), ensemble, spring/summer 1992, synthetic, resin, metal, leather, courtesy of Thierry Mugler Patrimoine, photo by Patricia Stable courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art; Bernhard Willhelm (German, born 1972) Ensemble, spring/summer 2006, cotton, synthetic, courtesy MoMu, Fashion Museum Antwerp, photo from personal collection; The Graphic Body II, photo from personal collection; Nike and SPEEDO race suits, photo from personal collection; Jean-Paul Gaultier (French, born 1952) Ensemble, haute couture spring/summer 2003, silk, courtesy of Collection Gaultier Paris, photo by Chris Moore courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art; Giorgio Armani (Italian, born 1934) ensemble, spring/summer 1990, silk, glass, crystal, courtesy of Georgio Armani, photo by Jaques Olivar courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art; Thierry Mugler (French, born 1948) ensemble autumn/winter 1995-1996, metal, plastic, resin, courtesy of Thierry Mugler Patrimoine, photo by Patricia Stable courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art; from “The Patriotic Body” photo from personal collection.        

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