Tag Archives: fashion

British Invasion

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Last week, in honor of Antony Gormley’s current exhibition, we threw a British-inspired soiree with the British Embassy, Washington, to celebrate all things great about Britain. While temperatures spiked outside, cool galleries helped guests imagine they’d journeyed across the pond. Ambassador and Lady Westmacott stopped by. Models from Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie donned Burberry, Charlotte Olympia, Issa, and Stella McCartney, and DJ Danny Harris rocked the Music Room with a ’60s British Invasion set.

A collage of photographs from a recent Phillips after 5 event with a British theme. Photos: Sue Ahn

Photos: Sue Ahn

Anyone for Phillips Staff Uniforms?

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Braque Birds in painting, fashion and sculpture

(Left) Georges Braque, Bird, 1956, Oil on canvas; 18 x 19 1/2 in.; 45.72 x 49.53 cm.. Acquired 1966. (Center) Yves Saint Laurent, Wedding dress, Tribute to Georges Braque, haute couture collection, Spring-Summer 1988. White tulle, white cotton piqué appliqué “doves.” ©Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent, Paris / Photo A. Guirkinger. (Right) Pierre Bourdelle's sculpture for the Phillips Collection Sant Building based on Braque's bird. Photo: Sarah Osborne Bender

My colleague and fellow fashion-lover Colleen Hennessey alerted me to this stunning wedding dress by Yves Saint Laurent, currently featured in the retrospective of the designer’s career at the Denver Art Museum. The dress from the Spring-Summer collection for 1988 is a tribute to Georges Braque and features his iconic birds, as found in the Phillips Collection and the inspiration for the Pierre Bourdelle sculpture on the front of our building. The shape has also been used for museum letterhead, library bookplates, and visitor pins. I vote for adopting this as a staff uniform.

This Thursday: Sartorial Experimentation Encouraged!

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Personally, I’m pretty excited about tomorrow night’s Experiment Station-themed Phillips after 5. This theme is drawn from the writings of museum founder Duncan Phillips in which he envisioned his museum as an experiment station, and we have dedicated the entire evening (as we have this blog) to the concept. Not only will the event include magic by area illusionist David London, but we’re debuting artist (and blog illustrator) Elizabeth Graeber’s illustrated self-guide to the collection. I’d also like to encourage some experimental fashion, such as the inventive D.I.Y. drink ticket necktie that Phillips Installations Manager Bill Koberg sported at last month’s Phillips after 5 with The Washington Ballet. See you tomorrow night! Amanda Jiron-Murphy, In-Gallery Interpretation and Public Programs Coordinator