Art & Fashion, Events
Apr 26, 2013

MADONNA’S “FASHION EVOLUTION” SHOWCASES HER TOP CAREER STYLES & NEW MATERIAL GIRL LINE

Being a HUGE Madonna fan, I was thrilled when I heard that her Material Girl Collection at Macy’s would be hosting a Pop-Up Exhibit featuring iconic costumes that the singer has worn throughout her career. Die-hard fans stood in a line wrapped around the corner at Century City Mall waiting to see the exhibit, and celebrities couldn’t wait to walk the pink carpet to attend this event.

VIP guests included: Vanessa Hudgens (pictured looking at Madonna’s costumes), Annasophia Robb (Sex and the City), Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries), Michelle Trachtenberg, Darren Criss (Glee), Ireland Baldwin, Christos Garkinos (Dukes of Melrose) and more.

We spoke to Arianne Phillips, Madonna’s longtime stylist and collaborator, about her experience on helping Madonna curate and style the exhibit. She said, “It’s kind of a fantasy! I mean it’s a dream. I’ve been working with them for 15 years but I still pinch myself. Especially because this early part of her career, we call the “Material Girl” era, so informed me and what has helped shape me aesthetically to end up becoming a stylist and a costume designer. I’m aware of every one of those moments. It’s cool to get to know those costumes in person because it was before my time with her.”

Arianne told us that Madonna handpicked her favorite costumes from an archive of what she wore on tours and her personal collection. Among the costumes displayed were the famous, Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra corsets from her Blond Ambition Tour, her Re-Invention Tour ensemble by Christian LaCroix, her “Like A Virgin” wedding dress she wore to the MTV VMA’s in 1984, the Bob Mackie evening gown she wore to the 1991 Oscars as Michael Jackson’s guest, the black leather motorcycle jacket by Montgomery Ward and t-shirt from her “Papa Don’t Preach” video, the black satin corset with conical cups from her Who’s That Girl Tour, her “Boy Toy” jacket designed by Vivienne Westwood and the late Keith Haring, and many more.

The costumes were surrounded by the Material Girl Collection that Madonna designed with her daughter, Lola. Madonna commented, “The pop-up exhibit at Macy’s perfectly exemplifies the inspiration and spirit of the Material Girl line and will give my fans a great opportunity to see the evolution of my style over the years.”

This “Fashion Evolution” brought back so many wonderful memories and reminded me why I’ve been such a huge fan of the singer over the years.