I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t loved a good leather jacket. For my Fashion Forecasting class, we got a chance to not only see the Beyond Rebellion Exhibit, but also to get a guided tour of it. In case you’d like to see the exhibit, it’s free and it’s closing on April 5th (which is my 18th birthday btw, but whatever, no big deal).
The leather jacket has been a staple for decades, ever since it was invented by Schott NYC in the early 1900s. Jackets from labels such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent, and Rick Owens are featured in the exhibit.
When I got home, I checked my leather jacket, to see that the leather jacket my mother had handed down to me is actually by Schott NYC! These jackets cost around hundreds of dollars now! And it isn’t your typical leather jacket; it’s a WW1 aviator’s jacket! I feel like I have a little piece of history.
We also got a chance to visit the Trend-ology Exhibit. I saw clothing from the 18th century all the way until present time. I love learning about fashion throughout history and how it has evolved and changed with the times. My favorite was a blush pink gown by Ralph Rucci. The darts were sewn so strategically; they all had a specific purpose. The color and design was minimalist, yet it was still stunning.
Two weeks ago, for my Fashion Merchandising class, we also got a chance to learn about fashion through history. We got a private lesson about not only how fashion has changed throughout time, but also what fashion says about certain time period. We learned about what hemlines reveal about the women’s rights movement and how synthetic fibers changed fashion. I got a chance to be just a mere foot away from some of the fashion “game changers”, like a Mario Fortuny silk pleated gown, to a Chanel bouclé tweed suit to a printed Oscar de la Renta shift dress. We also learned about the history of couture. 
I had never given much thought to what pants and hemlines reveal about gender equality, but it was very interesting. I had always known that fashion changes with time, but I had never realized what trends and clothes reveal about a time period. It backed up my belief that fashion is not just about the way you look.
Have you gone to FIT’s Museum?
Until next time,
Arielle