Two firebrands of the fashion world, Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, will be the subject of next spring’s Costume Institute exhibit. The two Italian designers explored notions of femininity, had strong ties to the fine arts, and are icons in their own right.

Featuring about 80 designs by Schiaparelli from the late Twenties through the early Fifties, and Prada from the late Eighties through to the current day, the exhibit seeks tio create a sort of visual conversation between the designer. Baz Luhrmann is a creative consultant on the project, and along with Ms. Prada, Carey Mulligan and Anna Wintour will chair the benefit.

Harold Koda, who is curating the exhibition says: “The thing about Prada is she always seems a heartbeat ahead of taste, but by transgressing, she moves contemporary society into a new aesthetic,” Koda added. “Schiaparelli did the same thing, but in the same way as anyone who breaks ground and becomes accepted, it suddenly then seems normative. I think people will leave with a sense of how provocative both women have been and really are.”

-RS (quote and images via WWD)

REALITY BYTES: I WANT A JOB IN FASHION!

WEEK 2:

This past week was quite the ping-pong match. It began with low when I was forwarded the contact information for someone at Donna Karan. After shooting her an e-mail asking for an interview, I got an immediate “No.” I was bummed. Finding a job can be pretty brutal when all you want is to be given a chance. Despite this, I kept my head up for the next round, which took place at a soon-to-launch fashion website.

Initially, I didn’t know much about the website’s concept, but after chatting a bit with the content manager, it was clear that she was interested in hiring me. I started to realize something: this website idea sounds familiar… It sounds like… DesignerSocial!!! While I’m not at liberty to fully describe this new website (because it has yet to launch), I can tell you that it did make me feel caught between a rock and a hard spot. But being that I am “Team DesignerSocial,” I am continuing my search. And while my job hunt was fairly uneventful this week, believe it or not, I think I may have just spotted Anna Wintour.. in Starbucks on West Broadway and Houston just hours ago.

I went up to her and said, “Hi, I’m so sorry to bug you, but are you Anna Wintour?” (I was going to try to get a picture with her) and she immediately says “No” and walks away quickly. But I know it was her. I knowww it was (and I’m still kinda freaking out about it!). Since I couldn’t get a photo with her, I sneakily took one when I sat back down. It’s a little blurry, but what do you think??

Posted by: Sarah Pottharst

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