Thursday, December 10, 2015

F.I.T. Museum Exhibit Denim: Fashion's Frontier


 Fashion & Textile History Gallery


After visiting the F.I.T. Museum exhibit what is your understanding of how denim has influenced our culture? List 2 or more museum pieces that inspired you, describe them and explain how you were enlightened. Lastly, respond to the comment of one or more classmate. Happy Blogging!!

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

From what I understand, denim has influenced our culture because we use it for various garmets. One piece I was inspired by was the Roberto Cavalli ensemble. It was embroiedered blue denim and silk. I was enlightenedby the jacket the most but the entire outfit being that it tied in together with the floral print. Another pieceI was inspired by wasthe Claire McCardell beachensemble. It was sporty, yet chicand appeared as beachwear.

Anonymous said...

The different pieces on display at the FIT Museum demonstrate how many things can be done with denim. I was surprised by all the ways denim was used at the exhibit. I was particularly taken aback by Kenzo's piece, a floral printed denim crop top and mini skirt. He created this strictly from an old Levi's denim jacket, and I found it amazing that he could turn something bland into something creative. Overall, my experience at the museum opened my eyes to the different ways that fabric like denim can be manipulated and used to create new and interesting styles.

Anonymous said...

@Aiyanna I was also inspired by the swimwear, particularly a bleached denim swimsuit from Circa in 1973. I was amused by it because it was a different kind of swimsut for the time period, yet still fashionable. It also foreshadowed the future of bleached denim, which became much more popular in the 90s. The beachwear pieces were very interesting to look at and learn about.

Unknown said...

Denim has influenced our culture in so many ways. It's able to communicate a relaxed feel if paired with sneakers and a tshirt, and a sexy feel with heels and a blouse. Denim is worn by all age groups and is truly universal. I loved the Rosie the Riveter inspired denim jumpsuit. It was reminiscent of the 1940s but maintaining a modern feel. @Layla said that denim could be manipulated and used to create new and interesting styles. I completely agree with this. From the denim bustier to the denim shirts, to denim gowns, it's truly a versatile fabric.

Anonymous said...

After visiting the F.I.T museum exhibit I understand the various ways denim is being used in our culture.It extended from just denim jacket, pants and skirt to dresses,suits and more unique jeans and etc.I was inspired by Gian Franco suit. I liked the dark denim used in this suit.I honestly love the jackets sleeves mostly because i never seen it on a suit.I was also inspired by Robert Cavallis. Since he made a simple denim jacket and skirt into a unique piece by adding embroidery which was really amazing.
@isabella I agree that denim can be used to give a sexy feel with hells and a blouse.

Anonymous said...

After visiting the F.I.T museum exhibit, I realized that Denim can be used in many different ways for various pieces of clothing and that is how it has a big impact on our culture. Most people thing of jeans or a jumper when they hear denim , they don't automatically think of a dress or a bathing suit as displayed in the exhibit. I was inspired by the bleached and tie dyed bathing suit piece and the Moschino Jeans dress. The bathing suit piece was something that I never imagined to be a swim suit. It was open on the sides of the bottom and the top was a regular but cute bandeau. I like how it was bleached and tie dyed because the color came out very nice. The Moschino Dress , I like how it has the cups on the front and how it's fitted at the top but a little loose on the bottom. The sleeves also make it very different. I agree with Layla and how she said that the swim suit was different yet fashionable.

Anonymous said...

After visiting the fit museum exhibit of denim i was blown away by the different and creative ways that denim was and is still being used. The thing that i found very interesting was that denim was used for a specific prisoner back in the 1800's . Its interesting because we don't normally associate denim with prisoners . It's really creative that denim can be used in various ways such as bathing suits, jumpers, dresses and jackets. My favorite piece was the Donna Karan Ensemble , i loved the idea of a dress in all denim . @isabella i agree that denim is a versatile fabric and just visiting the exhibit made me realize how versatile it is because of the many ways it was used.

Unknown said...

After visiting the FIT museum I learned that denim can be used in many different ways, and the designers each have their own style. Denim is classic and has been used for decades, and it was interesting to see how designers from all over the world used denim to create different looks. Denim has influenced our culture because it has been worn for work, convenience, and now fashion. Denim was a sturdy material and many people used in the 19th and 20th centuries to work in factories, mines, and farms. Denim became a popular style in the late 20th century and designers transformed the basic jean into tons of looks in the FIT museum. Some of my favorite looks from the museum were the Kenzo ensemble from 1986, the Sara Shelburne ensemble from 1970, the Gucci pants from 1999, and the Roberto Cavalli ensemble from 2003. All of these designs were unique and utilized denim in their own way. I like how the Kenzo ensemble was from a Japanese designer from 1986, but it has similarities to the Roberto Cavalli ensemble from 2003. I like how the Sara Shelburne ensemble completely disguised the denim and made a unique outfit with unique colors. I like how the Gucci pants were inspired by Native American fashion with the feathers and the patterns on the pockets. This inspired me because of the ability of designers to create such unique clothing with the same type of fabric.

Unknown said...

I agree with @alexisburgos that it is amazing how denim can be transformed into so many garments. Even though it is not really known (and I didn't know) that denim was used in prisons in the 1800s, it was used in many occupations and interests all throughout history. Many people used denim for different uses.

Anonymous said...

Denim has been used in various ways over the years and it ceases to amaze me. Each garment was unique in its own way and brought something different to the world of fashion. My favorite pieces were the dark blue denim jumpsuit and the Kenzo crop denim jacket and ultra miniskirt. I love those two prices the most because they are totally different from each other and both have great meanings behind them. The jumpsuit brought in an era of working women during WW2. It gave women a sense of power as they entered the work force to aid the men at war. The Kenzo garment inspired me as it is very intricate; extensive sequin floral design and appliqués. The entire garment was also made from a single signature Levi denim jacket. I'm greatly inspired by this exibit as its shown me that even with the same fabric the possibilities in creating something new and unique are endless.

Unknown said...

When I visited the FIT museum, it was great to see the different ways that denim was styled in. I did not realize the different ways that denim can be portrayed. For instance, the Robert Cavalli "embroidered blue denim and silk," was eye catching, due to the fact that I never personally seen embroidered denim before. The museum gave a different outlook on the way denim was carried out throughout the years. I do agree with @Victoria, because its true that denim can be basic and has influenced out culture but it has many creative looks.

Anonymous said...

Denim has influenced our culture because it's what we use and wear for various things. It gives our culture stability and base in fashion. Two pieces from the museum that inspired me was the 1990's Moschino printed logo jeans that were black and white and the 1970's tie dye bleached bathing suit. The top piece was a bandeau and the bottom was a skirt. Those looks caught my attention the most because I can see myself wearing them.

Anonymous said...

@ralphywilliams I agree with the whole idea of endless creativity and being able to use the same fabric.

Anonymous said...

Denim has came a long way through history. Starting from the "original Levi's " which was the first display as ou enter the exhibit. I was very inspired by the Roberto cavalli ensemble denim jacket with the floral pattern design on it. It reminded me so much of abstract art! Also I was so shocked by the fact that most of the Jean styles from earlier times are currently trendy jeans styles now. Overall it was a great exhibit and I loved being able to gain some knowledge on the history of denim.

Unknown said...

@Keiana Thompson, I like that you brought up the repetition of trends from back then and their presence in today's fashion. I noticed it too. I was also intrigued by the embroidered jacket as it must have taken a long time but the craftsmanship was present and exemplified creating a unique twist to the standard denim jacket.

Anonymous said...

After visiting the FIT museum,i realized that denim has influenced our culture since before it became as popular as it is now. We can see influences of denim in book bags,purses, and even on watches and accessories. It started becoming popular in prison and uniform clothing which then evolved into things that we all wear today on a regular basis, such as jeans. One piece that inspired me was the Gucci by Tom Ford denim ensemble. It has a checker board pattern of different colors one the front pockets and fur on the bottom.The way that the different patterns and fur worked together made it look cool and showed me that jeans aren't only denim fabric, they can be much more than that. Another piece from the museum that inspired me was the Ralph Lauren Prairie. It has a tribal print sweater with a long blue denim skirt. It captures the essence of a "little house on the prairie" girl and makes it modern and into something that some people can actually wear today.

Anonymous said...

I agree with @isabella when she stated that denim is a versatile fabric because we can see denim influence in almost everything nowadays.

Ms. David's Virtual Classroom said...

After visiting the museum I was mostly intrigued by the film in the entrance which showed a documentary of how cotton is spun to then create the textile of denim fabric. The process seemed very intricate and accurate. The machinery used was massive and the individuals who operate the machinery seemed so proud of the work they produced. I think what fascinates me most of all about denim is that ALL people from cross cultures and socio economic levels wear it and own a pair of jeans. Denim is the fabric that truly makes the human kind ONE.

Ms. David's Virtual Classroom said...

@ Keiana thank you for making the connection between the exhibit and the current unit we are covering abstract art.

Anonymous said...

After visiting the museum, I noticed that denim is no longer used just for jackets and pants. There was a variety of different garments from jackets, to jumpsuits and even bathing suits which was very interesting considering some of the designs weren't something you'd see everyday. The designers were making the garments appealing to the eye but also tied it into culture and different time periods in history. I enjoyed how they looked passed the thought of what is most realistic to wear and used their inner artist to create different designs that you may even say had an abstract element to them.

Anonymous said...

@RalphyCalpone I agree completely, each garment was unique and it did bring something new into the fashion world. Now a days I feel as if designers are almost stealing ideas or repeating other designs, so to see these creative pieces was very refreshing and proves that some people out there are still trying to make something different.

Anonymous said...

Denim is properly a very popular fabric that is used over and over again. Something that I learned at the museum was the fact denim is made out of cotton. I know everyone knew about that fact, but I didn't know that until now, of couse we learn things everyday. Going back to the topic, I personal loved the Levi Stauss & Co. jean that was hand embrodered. The color detailed makes the jean look simple and casual. The jean reminded me of the project we are working on with the abstract art. The cutouts and the way its like a work of art. I totally agree with @RalphyCalpone's statement about how the demin garments is unique and as she stated, "... brought something different to the world of fashion."

Anonymous said...

When I think of denim I think Levis and American. Denim is such an American symbol and I love that FIT has this exhibition, paying homage to this classic and timeless fabric.I believe the reason denim has never faded is because of its versatility; The way it can be manipulated to ones own desire is amazing.At the exhibit we see countless designers put their own spin on the fabric. For example, the leisure wear short sleeve top and shorts, because of the strip print you wouldn't believe it could be denim on the first look. The thing I love the most is when you first enter the exhibition you are welcomed by the one that started it all, Levi Strauss's 501 jeans.

I agree with @Layla Essaily, it's fascinating that there are endless possibilities with what we can do with just one fabric.

Anonymous said...

After my visit at the F.I.T Museum I understand that denim influenced fashion and culture over many years, changing and Constantly Being and Modified Over time. And that denim is very unique with so many possibilities for example denim is Unisex Meaning can be worn by men and women also denim is used in so many ways,it's used for purses, bags , jackets, pants, skirts, hats , even used as just a simple patch as a design choice. I came to understand that denim is a trend that will never die out but will continue to grow, change and be Modified Over time. That is what I gain from my experience at the F.I.T Museum.

Anonymous said...

I agree with what your saying because denim is something very unique and I also saw the jumpsuit in the Era of world War 2 that's was actually one if my favorites because that one jumpsuit Symbolizes That women can do and wear anything men can and I also agree that denim as endless possibilities because of all the things we do with denim and that's what makes it so unique.

Unknown said...

After visiting the F.I.T Museum of denim I realized that denim was really incorporated in our culture because for many years garments were only made from denim.From walking around in the museum i was inspired by two denim garment displays. The first one was the " Claire McCardell beach ensemble" i was inspired by this piece because you wouldn't think of wearing denim to the beach so because on that i found it very interesting that they was able to put the two together. The second garment that i was inspired by was "Jumpsuit blue denim" the reason why this was inspirational is because even though this jumpsuit is made out of denim it can be either dressed up or dressed down. I enjoyed see the different ways denim was used.