Basket articulated coudes around 1770, and body whales, around 1740-1760. Photo: © Patricia Canino
. Paris: Les Arts Décoratifs, collection Mode et Textile et dépôt du musée de Cluny

PARIS: In former days, the wimen, and men should run around looking as exposition figures, with slim taile, large hips, wide shoulders (for the mens), everything beautiful, at least when they were “official”
. How did that function?

Presented by Tomas Bagackas

These are some of the inteesting questions that Musée des Arts Decoratif at Louvre in Paris is trying to answer in their newest “fashion” exposition. – One in a long line of wellformed expositions that they have presented at their museum through many years. This one until 24 novembre 2013. 

Stomach belt for man, 1st
. part of the XX Century.

This exhibition explores the ‘underworld’ of female and male undergarments such as the fly, the pannier, the corset, the crinoline, the bustle, the pouf, the stomach belt, the bra and other vestimentary devices fashioning the body by means of whalebones, hoops and cushions according to the changing dictates of fashion. Modelling the body sometimes to extremes, these “mechanical garments”enabled the wearer to artificially attain the ideal of beauty of the time.

tournure cage, model Papillon. 1872. Photo: Patricia Canino

This exploration is full of surprising discoveries since, contrary to common belief, these artifices were by no means a 19^th-century speciality.

Recourse to these concealed architectures has been constant since at least since the 14^th century until the present day.

fake ass. rattan braid, Europe 1880
. Photo: Patricia Canino

Illustrating the diversity of artifices and their mechanics with museum pieces rarely shown to the public, this exhibition – the first of its kind – takes us ‘backstage’, into another, behind-the-scenes history of clothing and fashion.

Packed Double pouches, 1775-1780. Photo: Patricia Canino

PRACTICAL Info:

Les Arts Décoratifs – Mode et textile
107 rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
Tél. : 01 44 55 57 50
Métro : Palais-Royal, Pyramides ou Tuileries
Autobus : 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, 95

Dolce Gabana used in their spring summer collection 2007
. Photo: Patricia Canino