Inspiration from the Past to the Future
As if there was any question as to whether we’re living in the future, the online resources provided by The Costume Institute at the Met kind of blow away any doubts. Think about it. From my home, on my computer, 3000 miles away, I can look for one hundred year-old dresses housed at the museum and pull up photos that contain this much beadwork detail. I can zoom all around the dress, sometimes even see the label. And this is the case for about 32,000 pieces of clothing and accessories. It’s kind of ridiculous.
Detail from Evening Dress from House of Worth ca. 1908
Detail from Evening Dress from House of Worth, ca. 1910
Detail from Evening Dress from House of Worth, ca. 1910
Detail from Evening Dress from Simcox, ca. 1912
Detail from Evening Dress from House of Worth, ca. 1924
And on my computer, more 5000 miles away from you, I can read about this ten minutes after you write it, and then do all the same things. Technology is a wonderful thing!
Wow- that is incredible! Thanks for sharing, Mena. And thank you to the Met for doing this for us :)
Technology is lovely! :) One of the first composition classes I taught when I started teaching college courses was titled “Virtual Realities, Virtual Bodies: Technologies and Identity.” We covered the idea of how networking, as we do on the Sew Weekly, as well as information dissemination via the internets as exemplified here. It’s really awesome and awe inspiring if you think about it.
Mena–this totally just gave me an idea for a weekly posting on my blog as well! Thanks for the (inadvertent) brainstorm!
Wow, this beadwork is incredible! And it reminded me instantly of the beginning of first season of “The House of Elliott” where the poor girls sit in dim light beading gowns for the rich…ahem, I have to go and watch it again.
Unbelievably breathtaking!