The swan dress that Björk wore to the 2001 Oscars was extremely provocative, especially when a large egg fell out of it. Controversial at first, the design has now entered the pantheon of great red carpet moments.
Made by Macedonian designer Marjan Pejoski, based in the United Kingdom, for the fashion house KTZ, the dress is the main attraction of the exhibition “Rebel: 30 years of London fashion”, which will open on September 16 at the Design Museum in London.
Sponsored by British brand Alexander McQueen – whose namesake shook the museum scene in 2011 with his highly successful “Savage Beauty” retrospective, first at the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute, then at the Victoria & Albert Museum – the exhibition features around 100 daring looks the debut or first collections of young designers.
Other eye-catching pieces in the exhibition include a replica of Sam Smith's inflatable latex costume - designed by HARRI's Harikrishnan Keezathil Surendran Pillai, son of a latex farmer in India - that he wore to the BRIT Awards, as well as Steven Stokey's outfit Harry Styles' Daley from his “Golden” music video, Russell Sage's recycled Union Jack jacket that Kate Moss wore for British Vogue, and a loose-fitting Molly Goddard ruffle dress that went viral when Rihanna showed it off.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Design Museum and the British Fashion Council (BFC) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the BFC's NEWGEN program, according to a statement. All designers were supported by NEWGEN at the beginning of their careers.
The swan dress was first revealed at Pejoski's NEWGEN show in London for autumn/winter 2001, where it was seen by the Icelandic singer, who grabbed it and, in addition to the Oscar, wore it on the cover of her album “Vespertine ”. The now-iconic dress has only been shown publicly twice before - both times in New York. Its inclusion in “Rebel” marks the first time it has been seen in the United Kingdom and in the city where it was designed and created.
The exhibition is organized into three parts: Art School, which shows how London's art education system – including the world-renowned Central Saint Martins university – incubated individuality; Backstage Pass, where visitors can relive the frenetic moments before a fashion show; and Runway, where visitors can join the front row to watch six fashion shows.
“Visitors will be surprised by many of the instantly recognizable fashion items on display,” said Tim Marlow, director and CEO of the Design Museum, “but we hope they will also be captivated by the breadth, depth, diversity and first-class talent that has emerged from the London fashion scene over the last three decades.”
Source: Artnet News