The Met is Celebrating All Things Camp

Every year, the Met Museum’s Costume Institute puts on a themed exhibition, showcasing fashion’s deep, and time-tested influence on the world at large—and vice versa. Opening after the annual Met Gala, held each year on the first Monday in May, these exhibitions are always a visual delight. For 2019’s installation of the exhibit, curator Andrew Bolton (who works closely with Vogue’s Anna Wintour), is celebrating all things Camp.

Camp: Notes on Fashion at the Met

The word “camp” first appeared in the 17th century, referring to the theatricality and masquerading of court jesters and comedy kings. Towards the end of the 19th century, it evolved to encapsulate a kind of queer subculture that took hold thanks to cultural icons like Oscar Wilde. This year, The Met’s Costume Institute explores the wild and spirited world of “camp” with an exhibit of over 250 objects dating from the seventeenth century to the present. Here are a few details about some of the brilliant minds behind the show.

Bertrand Guyon

French designer Bertrand Guyon, of House of Schiaparelli, has dressed celebrities like Céline Dion, Lady Gaga, and Emily Blunt, creating haute couture pieces that accentuate the A-listers’ quirky, yet elegant senses of style. We hope you like flamingos.

Jeremy Scott

Working as the Creative Director for House Moschino, Jeremy Scott has earned a reputation as “fashion’s last rebel.” Designing clothing that reflects his signature irreverence, humor, and whimsy, Scott has worked with fashion and music queen like Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande and Björk.

Alessandro Michele

Gucci hired Alessandro Michele as Creative Director in 2015, with the goals of modernizing the brand, and stabilizing its consumer base. Michele’s preferences for vintage vibes and pops of tasteful peculiarities made him a stand-out for the job. Prints of his work will grace Camp, highlighting his artistry and exceptional attention to detail.

Andrew Bolton

Curator in Charge of the Costume Institute, Andrew Bolton plans to install a Roman sculpture of a young Hercules to illustrate one of his favorite, and earliest representations of “camp.” Hip jutted out, hand posed in classic sorority girl style, Hercules takes on the attitude of a model with unabashed class and swagger.

Camp: Notes on Fashion: Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute; 1000 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10028 Phone: 212-535-7710

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Top photo: Alessandro Michele (Italian, born 1972) for Gucci (Italian, founded 1921). Ensemble, fall/winter 2016–17. Courtesy of Gucci Historical Archive. Photo © Johnny Dufort, 2018

Selected works, from left: Franco Moschino for House of Moschino, fall/winter 1989. Courtesy of Moschino. Photo © Johnny Dufort, 2018; Thom Browne ensembles, spring/summer 2017. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Thom Browne, 2018 (2018.134.1a–d [left]) (2018.134.2a–f[right]). Photo © Johnny Dufort, 2018; Jeremy Scott (American, born 1975) for House of Moschino (Italian, founded 1983). Ensemble, spring/summer 2018. Courtesy of Moschino. Photo © Johnny Dufort, 2019