Fashion Geek of the Week– “fashion history: the MFA Hippie Chic exhibit”

This fashionably geeky article comes from the fashion & make-up guru The Seventh Sphinx, whom I stole away to geek out with me at the Museum of Fine Arts specifically for geek-out over the awesome Sumarai exhibit, but as you’ll see there was an unexpected treat for Sphinx too! For a closer look at some of the outfits hit up The Seventh Sphinx.com or check out a couple of selections below

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Last week I went to the MFA with GeekOutsider to see the Samurai exhibit (which was very cool, and inspiring style-wise in its own way). Imagine my delight when I realized there was a concurrent exhibit on 60s and 70s fashion, Hippie Chic.

I found this so inspiring. Here are some highlights.

OK, what do we take away?

We need:

more color

a lot more color (both in the sense of great riots of color in a single piece and of a single bold solid color for a piece, ex. the solid red buttoned dress)

tailoring

feathers, somehow (that massive blue coat is Marabou feathers – YES)

nontraditional suits for men and women (are you seeing that olive and black skirt suit??), but especially men

renaissance homages (the yellow renaissance dress with the embroidery and the gorgeous draping has to be my favorite)

hooded cloaks (the gray and black cloak was another I loved)

awesome boots (with the stars?!!) – awesome boots are timeless (this was GeekOutsider’s favorite look, in the teardrop swing with the casual corsetry)

imposing collars and cuffs (that red Russian coat with the black fur trim…)

style fusion – take anything you want from anywhere in history. I was amazed by the Louis XIV get-up, which is to me completely cute and desirable. Those little calf-length pants with diamond edging! I could wear those. I could wear those right now. Current fashion incorporates features from many eras, it’s true, but I think almost always in a very small, minor or diluted way. Returning to these eras in an undiluted form can be extremely refreshing – not incorporating them entirely, which is the realm of costume (though it can be a fine line, between costume and attire, and one it is fun to blur), but incorporating them in a way definitely and authentically; truly balanced fusion.

The exhibit is up until mid-November, and a general admission ticket gets you in. You can go for free on Wednesdays after 4pm….

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