Exhibition Watch: Death Becomes Her at MoMA
There's something undeniably somber about the early days of winter. With the leaves vanishing from the trees and frost covering the usually colorful streets in a blanket of grey... It seems appropriate that as we mourn the death of Autumn, the Museum of Modern Art is celebrating a century of funeral fashions. If you and someone special are looking for something to do this weekend, head down to MoMA and check out Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire.
Death Becomes Her features roughly 30 ensembles (some of which have never been shown before) and includes mourning gowns worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Victoria, as well as jewelry and accessories. Much more than just a way of observing the evolution and cultural ramifications of a particular type of clothing, the exhibition is also a unique and eye-catching educational experience, exploring a hundred years worth of bereavement rituals from all over the world.
This chronologically organized showcase is the first to be put on by The Costume Institute in seven years and it runs until February at Galleries 980 and 981. Whether you're interested in fashion or simply fascinated by the way our species pays homage to those who've passed on, this is surely a show you won't want to miss.
Photo courtesy of wikimedia.org.