LIVE STREAMING FROM THE RED CARPET(c) By Polly Guerin

Fashionistas need go no further than their computer to see the Red Carpet arrivals at the Costume Institute Benefit which is live streamed for the first time today, May 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m., on Vogue, Amazon.com/Fashion, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art websites. Here’s the scoop!!!

Elsa Schiaparelli, "L'Officiel, October 1937
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of art,
Photograph by George Saad, Les Editions Jalou, L'Officiel (c)

RED CARPET ARRIVALS For the first time in its history, red carpet arrivals at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s renowned Costume Institute Benefit, live-streamed online, for the arrivals at the Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” exhibit. Hosted by Vogue’s William Norwich and Elettra Wiedemann, the broadcast will include interview with the gala co-chairs, including Carey Mulligan, Miuccia Prada, and Anna Wintour, as well as celebrities from the worlds of fashion, film, society, sports, art, business and music. Special pre-taped segments will be shown on the history of the benefit and on this year’s corresponding exhibit.
THE INSIDE TRACK The hosts will ask attending celebrities five additional questions chosen from viewer submissions during the streaming. Also, Norwich and Wiedemann will give an inside perspective on preparing for the gala. Not to be missed this exciting live stream will be available on www.metmusuem.org/metgala. Also with information about the exhibition including images, videos of the galleries, and curators commentary                                                                                                            
TWO STRONG ITALIAN WOMEN The exhibition, on view May 10-August 19, explores the striking affinities between Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, Italian designers from quite different eras. Inspired by Miguel Covarrubias’s “Impossible Interviews” for Vanity Fair in the 1930s, curators Harold Koda and Andrew Bolton created conversations between these iconic women to suggest new readings of their most innovative work. Breathtaking imagery and over 90 signature objects and 30 accessories by Schiaparelli in the late 1920s to the early 1950s (including Salvador Dali influences), and Prada from the late 1980s to the present, are compared and contrasted to explore the extraordinary impact of their aesthetics and sensibilities on contemporary notions of fashionability.
THE GALLERIES In the galleries, iconic ensembles by Schiaparelli and Prada are presented with videos of simulated conversations between the two designers focusing on how both women explore similar themes in their work through very different approaches. The third gallery is divided into multiple themes: “Hard Chic,” “naïf Chic” and “Ugly Chic” versus “The Classical body” and “The Exotic Body. Watch the backgrounds. If you look closely you will see models winging at you from life-size images and even Wallis Simpson wear Schiaparelli’s famous ‘Lobster’ dress, the skirt floating in an imaginary breeze.                                                                                                   
SURREALISM AND MODERNISM The exhibit ends with a series of Lucite-encased garments themed “The Surreal Body,” which touches on the most innovative by both designers. Don’t miss Schiap’s lamb chop-shaped hat and the famous shoe hat. THE PARIS BRAND The storied fashion brand Schiaparelli is making a comeback. Italian business titan Diego Della Valle, the owner of the Paris brand, is searching for a designer to re-activate the label with all its modernity and sophistication. Born in Rome in 1890, Elsa Schiaparelli was seen as a key rival of Gabrielle Chanel. Known for designs heavily influenced by Surrealist art and, of course, Dali’s influence cannot be denied.                                                                  Ta Ta darlings!!! It was a marvelous morning at the press preview. It's a ‘not to be missed’ experience. Only in New York, my friends, only in New York!!! Fan mail welcome: pollytalk@verizon.net. Visit Polly’s Blogs at www.pollytalk.com. Just click on the direct link in the left-hand column list to thefashionhistorianpollyguerin or amazingartdecodivas.