The following image shows red cape from 18th century England (on the right) next to a more modern take by Comme de Garcons (left). Both of these pieces were part of their Fairy Tales Fashion exhibit in 2016. The exhibit in which these originally took place was centered around fairy tales which was fitting for the red capes to represent red riding hood These pieces were included in the exhibit as a way to show how fashion repeats itself even 200 years later therefore making them great for an exhibit. Our understanding of fashion in the museum place comes from seeing pieces that we would usually not have in our wardrobe or pieces that a more geared toward 3D art and sculpture. According to last week’s reading by The New York Times, fashion exhibitions are the height of fashion; they allow a designer’s work to be shown to more bigger and broader audience. With these red capes, not many of the people who saw it at FIT would have known about it if they had not attended the exhibit thus reinforcing the idea that these exhibits are the heights of fashion.
