Artistically fashionable or fashionably artistic?

Is fashion a form of art? That is a question many have been asking throughout history. Even in our local scene, this concern has been raised when it comes to naming a National Artist for Fashion Design. But on every first Monday of May, that question is answered by the ultra-glamorous, high fashion event known as the Met Gala, as it puts sartorial works on museum displays for everyone to see. It presents fashion as a cultural mover that, apart from its commercial aspect, it can and should be considered art.

And after last year’s cancelation, the Met Gala is back to bring our attention to one of the world’s top art galleries: the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. With this year’s theme putting a spotlight on America’s contribution to the way we dress, the museum is doing two special exhibits and is giving us a first glimpse of the installations’ dress code.

First up is the “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” which will be on display at the Anna Wintour Costume Center. The Costume Institute of the museum shared snaps of what to see through an Instagram post.

“The American fashion community has been supporting us for 75 years, really since the beginning of the Costume Institute, so I wanted to acknowledge its support, and also to celebrate and reflect upon American fashion,” the Costume Institute’s curator Andrew Bolton says to Vogue. “I really do believe that American fashion is undergoing a Renaissance. I think young designers in particular are at the vanguard of discussions about diversity and inclusion, as well as sustainability and transparency, much more so than their European counterparts, maybe with the exception of the English designers.”

“In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” exhibit will be available for public viewing on Sept. 18, 2021. It will remain on display until “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” opens on May 5, 2022.

See more of the Costume Institute’s latest exhibit here.