The Costume Institute: Fashion’s new online mecca

For those of you still in the flush of appreciation for the fashion world post-fashion week month should take note of a fabulous new development for all those who are enamoured of the history and wealth of archival designs of those designers that we continue to celebrate every season.

The sartorial mecca that is the Costume Institute, part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, has now finally capitalised on the power of the internet by digitally archiving their inimitable collection of costumes, clothes, jewellery and accessories that has been built up since its foundation in 1937.

Similar to our very own Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington in London, the Costume Institute plays host to twice yearly directional exhibits examining the beauty of the fashion world and its many influences. This pattern was set by legendary Diana Vreeland whose terrifically enviable career saw her take posts at Harper’s Bazaar in the 1930s through to Vogue in the 1960s. It was after this that she became curator at the institute, launching such exhibitions as ‘The World of Balenciaga’ in 1973.

Most recently the institute hosted the fabulous ‘Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy’ this year from May through to September and for which the glitterati turned out in superhero themed glory at the annual Met Ball.

Check out The Costume Institute when you have a free minute, enter your favourite designer key word and enjoy a wealth of fashion history at your finger tips without leaving your desk, let alone flying transatlantic to New York. My search for Yves Saint Laurent yielded over 350 results!