HIGH FASHION IN SAN FRANCISCO

Today's adventure was to the De Young Museum in San Francisco for the final weekend of the highly popular Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit.  We had been meaning to go but just didn't put in on the calendar.  All of our friends reported how great it was - not only over-the-top fashion/creations but also the actual show itself!  The mannikins were eerily lifelike, especially when moving or talking (or singing) faces were projected on to them.  The exhibit was quite crowded and no flash allowed but I did manage to take some photos which capture some of the wildly creative things at this show.

 This was one with a projected face - the eyes blinked.  It was quite disturbing.

I loved his use of natural things in his clothing - like these shells and pearls.

 Shoes!

 If you pay attention to the eyes on these next three shots you will see them move.

 I was so sorry I couldn't use flash because the colors are muted.  This is a wonderful "animal print" gown of beads with a fabulous fez-like hat.

And, speaking of animal print - this "leopard skin" is made totally of beads. 

 Yes, 1,006 hours to complete this!  I can't imagine keeping track!

 I loved the textures in this next one.  Photo doesn't do justice.  It's made up of velvet, satin, beads, ribbon and all manner of rich fabric and accessory.

 This "simple" outfit was topped with a magnificent fur hat ala Nanook of the North.

 Incredible bead/embroidery work.

I couldn't get over the wonderful texture of this ruffled tulle.  The rest of the outfit left me cold (it was camouflage) but I thought the different colors of ruffled tulle were very effective.

 This part of the exhibit was quite exciting as they had an oval runway that revolved so you felt like you were seeing an actual fashion show.  I loved the colors in this gown.

Yes, even her umbrella was done in Hounds Tooth!

This was an amazing work that was a play on filmstrips.  The skirt part of the gown is crepe of film-stock print

 More film strips for the train.

 The corset top is covered in actual acetate film strips.  Amazing effect.

This was a totally multimedia event.  In one area there was a large screen playing clips from movies featuring Gaultier costumes.  Naturally they were odd films, ones I like, such as City of Lost Children or The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, Her Lover (Helen Mirren gets to wear some great stuff) or Bad Education.

I would like to have spent longer at this exhibit but as always when it is too crowded I just want to leave.  Since we don't make it to the De Young as often as we should, I went over to the 20th Century American art section to see if the Lovet-Lorski Venus statue was there (our all time favorite piece) but alas, they had a photo exhibit where she usually is.  To see a photo of her see my earlier blog here  http://ajstephens.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=9

I did get to re-visit some old friends in the contemporary glass section (Dale Chihully and William Morris) before meeting up with Jim at our rendezvous point.  Try as we might we just can't warm up to the new De Young museum.  So, rather than have lunch there we hopped back in the car and drove to the Legion of Honor to see the Man Ray exhibit.  For us to visit the Legion of Honor is like dropping in to visit an old and well known friend.  It's comfortable. 

We settled in to the usual excellent lunch in the cafe (I had "Ray Le Formidable" quiche and Jim had "BBQ Poulet" Sandwich), hit the gift shop and then went to the Man Ray exhibit.  I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was a May Ray and Lee Miller exhibit.  I hadn't known anything about her and truthfully I enjoyed her photos more than his.  Ironically, photography was not allowed in this exhibit.  One of the more fascinating items they had in the display were two short film clips, one a Jean Cocteau film, "Blood of the Poet" from 1930, in which Lee Miller plays a sculpture which comes to life, and a May Ray film, "L'etoile de mer" from 1928, which Man Ray filmed mostly through a pane of glass distorted with water.

It was a perfect day that ended with Friday night rush hour traffic from the City most of the way back home.  Ah, well!  It's the price we pay.