Mint Museum Randolph

This exhibition presents selections from the Museum’s holdings of haute couture and luxury garments complimented by beautiful fashion accessories that reflect the creativity of numerous fashion designers of the second half of the 20th century and first years of the 21st century. Top couturiers and designers featured include Chanel, Dior, Balmain, Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, Valentino, Givenchy, Laroche, Patou, Yves Saint Laurent, Scassi, Versace, McFadden, Gallanos, Blahnik, Gucci, Louboutin, Armani, Ungaro, and Ralph Rucci, among others.

The art of the fashion designer, especially with haute couture and luxury garments, provides a client with beautiful creations that are expertly constructed and created using fine fabrics and trims with meticulous attention to detail.

Haute couture refers to one-of-a-kind, custom-made and fitted garments. Custom designs of total ensembles dates back Paris in the mid-nineteenth century. Today, the term haute couture by the French government who establishes standards and practices stipulating the official haute couture designers must be members of the elite Chambre syndicale de la haute couture.

As a broader term, fashion firms and businesses around the world refer to their high-end ready to wear clothing as haute couture. Every true haute couture house markets a ready to wear collection. As for the "L" word – luxury – its use in fashion, architecture and design has changed over the last fifty years. Luxury still implies characteristics that include flair, taste, fine materials and distinctive quality. Personal and socital perceptions of affluence underscore a sense of luxury in all high-end consumer goods.

For more information on the works in this exhibition, go to the Mint Wiki and select the link to the exhibition. The Mint Wiki is a service of The Mint Museum Library.



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Shoes

Organized by: The Mint Museum

For additional information, please contact:

Charles Mo – email , phone: 704-337-2001