The Met’s Costume Institute has officially unveiled a new theme for its upcoming exhibit, following the cancellation of a planned showcase for designer John Galliano amidst backlash over his controversial past comments. The new exhibit, titled “extraORDINARY: Fashion and the Poetics of the Everyday,” will explore how fashion transforms ordinary items into profound expressions of creativity and meaning.
After months of controversy surrounding Galliano’s past anti-Semitic remarks, the Metropolitan Museum of Art decided to scrap the original exhibit, which was initially set to honor the British designer. This decision came amid a growing societal recognition of the importance of sensitivity and accountability in the fashion industry.
Andrew Bolton, the head curator at the Costume Institute, shared insights into the new exhibit’s focus, emphasizing the transformative power of seemingly mundane objects such as jeans and puffer jackets. “Everyday clothes carry extraordinary amounts of meaning,” Bolton stated, highlighting how designers elevate familiar materials into sources of wonder and creativity.
Through the lens of fashion, the exhibit will encourage viewers to reconsider the significance of their everyday clothing and items, showcasing how these elements can inspire delight and surprise. The exhibition’s theme will influence the dress code for the Met Gala, traditionally held on the first Monday of May.
Bolton reflected on the challenges of pivoting from the Galliano showcase to the new theme without a backup plan. “I had no Plan B, to be honest,” he admitted, indicating the urgency of developing a fresh concept following the cancellation. The museum had already begun collecting designs for the original show, which was announced in July.
The decision to cancel the Galliano exhibit was made in collaboration with the designer himself, reflecting a mutual understanding of the need to address his past conduct. Despite his significant influence in the fashion world, Galliano’s career has been marred by public scrutiny over his comments and behavior.
As the Met prepares for the new exhibit, which will examine how everyday items can be reimagined, it signals a shift in the fashion narrative, inviting both designers and audiences to engage with the deeper meanings behind clothing and materials.
Photo credit: Jonas Gustavsson
