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The Pannier (French~wicker basket) supported the fashionable voluminous skirts of the early 18th century. Originally launched in Spain & then on to England & France , the undergarment was quickly embraced by all of fashionable Europe. The Pannier extended the width of the gown leaving the front and back flat. This arrangement allowed for a perfect canvas, showing off intricate brocades & embroidered silks. The original structure of the pannier was formed of stiffened petticoats & rows of whalebone running around the skirting. The style escalated to its breadth by 1728 and sailed through most of the 18th century.
In its most formal configuration, the robe à la française presented a particularly wide and flattened profile accomplished by enlarged panniers. Constructed of supple bent wands of willow or whalebone and covered in linen, panniers took on broader or narrower silhouettes. The most remarkable held out the skirts like sandwich boards, barely wider than the body in side view, but as expansive as possible in front or rear view.
Alexander McQueen saw things no one else saw-or could make out.
Of this Collection he said: " the idea of the chess game meant that we looked at six different types of women, women on opposing sides. We had the Americans facing the Japanese and the redheads facing the tanned Latinos.” Another Magazine, Spring/Summer 2005
all McQueen images from the Met Costume Institute, style.com
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McQueen at the board
"It's Only A Game"
Spring Summer Collection from 2005
Spring Summer Collection from 2005
McQueen designed the 2005 collection It’s Only a Game around the idea of a chess match between America and Japan. The queen wears a short, thigh-high dress, which is wide at the hips, a silhouette based on the eighteenth century. A kimono collar, obi sash, and an undershirt beautifully embroidered to look like tattooing are all drawn from Japanese culture. Next to her, the king appears as an American football player, with shoulder pads and a helmet covered in Japanese tattooing.. Andrew Bolton Savage Beauty Curator
the Queen's Panniers in Motion
Featured at the Exhibit, a McQueen dress and obi-style sash of lilac and silver brocade; jacket of lilac silk faille embroidered with silk thread; top of nude synthetic net embroidered with silk thread.(Met description)
McQueen's QUEEN on the board
Photography by Sølve Sundsbø, the Met here
The Pannier (French~wicker basket) supported the fashionable voluminous skirts of the early 18th century. Originally launched in Spain & then on to England & France , the undergarment was quickly embraced by all of fashionable Europe. The Pannier extended the width of the gown leaving the front and back flat. This arrangement allowed for a perfect canvas, showing off intricate brocades & embroidered silks. The original structure of the pannier was formed of stiffened petticoats & rows of whalebone running around the skirting. The style escalated to its breadth by 1728 and sailed through most of the 18th century.
the Met's robe a la francaise
In its most formal configuration, the robe à la française presented a particularly wide and flattened profile accomplished by enlarged panniers. Constructed of supple bent wands of willow or whalebone and covered in linen, panniers took on broader or narrower silhouettes. The most remarkable held out the skirts like sandwich boards, barely wider than the body in side view, but as expansive as possible in front or rear view.
the Met's Queen Diana Vreeland
As special consultant to the Costume Institute, from 1976 to 1989, Mrs. Vreeland prepares a silk and silver wedding dress worn by Catherine the Great. The 1976 Exhibition -"The Glory of Russian Costume"-was one of the shows Vreeland mounted while working with the Met. Her curatorial skills set the bar high for her successors. Curator Andrew Bolton and Curator in Charge continue the tradition of show stopping exhibits for the Institute- with the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" being its latest.
photo from LIFE, December 2, 1976.
the other McQueen from It's Only A Game
Spring Summer 2005
the Pieces at Play
past & present
Vreeland's Empress Catherine II, at left, panniers below
Empress Catherine II before the mirror
by Vigilius Erichsen, 1779
Queen Marie Antoinette, at right, panniers below
by Mme. Vigee Lebrun
The King at play- Louis xvi,
(paniers playing at far right)
& the Grandmaster
Of this Collection he said: " the idea of the chess game meant that we looked at six different types of women, women on opposing sides. We had the Americans facing the Japanese and the redheads facing the tanned Latinos.” Another Magazine, Spring/Summer 2005
& the result?
a master's Gambit.
all McQueen images from the Met Costume Institute, style.com
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