by Imagine this: an exhibition where you can touch, smell, and hear the art that’s on display. Seems impossible, right? Yet, that’s exactly what the Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan is offering this summer!
Curated by the museum’s Costume Institute in honor of the 2024 MET Gala, the Sleeping Beauties exhibition (open to the public until September 2, 2024) is a true celebration of the Institute’s fashion archives.
I had the chance to discover the over 220 garments and accessories displayed at the end of June, and I absolutely loved it! So, when Mitsou was in Manhattan recently, I really wanted to share this experience with her! She was ecstatic over an outfit by one of her favorite designers, Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli.
Here’s what caught my attention!
Technology Brings the Past Back to Life
As soon as you arrive, you’ll be immersed in a fashion universe spanning over four centuries.
Your first encounter will be with a gorgeous ball gown created by British couturier Charles Frederick Worth in 1887. Known as Cloud, this gown is the first of the 15 “sleeping beauties” displayed throughout the exhibition: garments now so fragile they must lie flat under the protection of glass and dimmed lighting.
Although the Costume Institute’s sleeping beauties can never be restored due to their delicate condition, they continue to flourish through the MET’s new exhibition. Indeed, Sleeping Beauties revives these precious pieces with the help of technology!
3D projections, sound effects, and olfactory experiences breathe new life into treasures that might otherwise have been lost forever!
I was fascinated by the 3D hologram of Worth’s Cloud gown dancing to Tchaikovsky’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’!
The Beauty of Nature
Every part of the exhibition reveals a unique ambiance, with themes of nature guiding guests’ experiences. You’ll discover pieces inspired by earth, air, and water.
Poppies, butterflies, and mermaids are some sources of inspiration for the displayed garments!
I had a real soft spot for a creation by Japanese designer Jun Takahashi, who recreated a terrarium with silk roses and butterflies in the skirt of his gown. This dreamy dress even lights up!
Awaken All Your Senses!
As you wander through the exhibition, you’ll not only admire the clothes and accessories but also feel their textures, hear their sounds, and even smell their scents!
In the Dior Garden section, you’ll be able to touch the plastic flowers of a small replica of Christian Dior’s legendary Miss Dior gown.
A little further on, you’ll marvel at an Alexander McQueen collection inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s film The Birds while hearing sounds of swallows coming from an impressive projection of black birds on the ceiling.
As incredible as it is to touch and hear these unique pieces, nothing compares to the olfactory aspect of the exhibition! That’s right, who would have thought that you could smell the scent of a Dior ball gown from 1958, a dress created in 1912, or a hat from 1934?
By extracting and analyzing odor molecules from certain garments, the MET has recreated the perfumes of these historical clothes. You can experience these surprising scents through plastic tubes and perfumed walls spread throughout the exhibition! Bouquets of roses, vintage skincare products, and even the drinks consumed by those who wore these outfits; it’s absolutely amazing to discover the scents that have been embedded in these garments for decades!
Pro tip: Since Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion is extremely popular, the MET has implemented a virtual queue system for the exhibition. Admission to the exhibition is included with your general admission ticket to the museum, but to gain entry, you must join the virtual queue via your phone. Access to the queue is facilitated by several QR codes displayed throughout the MET. Wait times vary throughout the day, so be sure to arrive early to avoid crowds! While you wait, I recommend taking advantage of the MET’s other exhibitions. There’s always something new to explore!
Enjoy this magical experience!
