The Museum at FIT — Attraction in New York

I showed up to FIT’s grad show expecting fabric and fashion kids in Margiela tabis. What I got instead was a reminder: the “I” in FIT stands for Institute. This place is academic. It’s design-forward. It’s full of deeply sincere worldbuilders and visual storytellers.

Had too much rosé at the open bar, which I don’t regret at all. The show spanned corridors and classrooms, and I wandered it like a benevolent auntie with flushed cheeks and a fat heart. Roo Guliyev’s The Ark of Oominoor was a fully fleshed portal to another earth—flora, fauna, fashion, transport systems. This was concept design as ecology, care, and color theory, all at once. Cassandra Li’s Lobster Kingdom nearly wrecked me. A children’s book with undertow. And Brendan Winick’s illustrated tour of Manhattan’s city government? That one grounded me. Like the antidote to all the other dreamlands. A sketchbook of the everyday, which is sometimes the most surreal of all.

The building itself is all glass and grit, right off 27th, near the kind of delis that still sell scratchers and lukewarm Diet Cokes. But inside—between the elevators and thesis placards—you could feel something blooming. Not just talent. Vision. A kind of quiet magic. I went for my friend. I left a little more hopeful about the next generation of visual storytellers. Also: never underestimate an open bar in a design...

Unique fashion exhibit. Personally for me it's the first one I've seen, and it's free. They have two floors of exhibit space that seem to rotate. Currently (October 2019) they have a special exhibit on the history of fashion in Paris and cultural impact on forming major centers of the fashion world including New York City among a few others.

The main exhibit features a comparison of minimalist vs. maximalist fashion and it's cyclical nature. The hall on the right has a photography exhibit of collections from students.

The range of styles is very impressive and sometimes historic. You can stop to read the plaques and learn about influential designers that led development at major fashion labels, and even see some outfits from the French revolution. The exhibit does it's best to frame the history of fashion as a succession of lead designers making their mark upon the culture of the world. It's a bit self referential but very enjoyable for the true fashion heads strolling the jet black museum space.

My personal favorite was the student photography section, where the themes and art were more accessible.

All in all, it's about and hour and a half to see the entire museum. It's generally pretty quiet, and I wouldn't bring kids. The photography exhibit features some nudity that may not be suitable...

This is FIT's fashion design and construction museum in Chelsea. It's open on weekends (starting on Thurs), and has free entry.

The exhibits vary and change often.

Re: May exhibit The museum is tastefully curated with designers through the ages. They even have Anne Lowe and one of her debutante ball gowns on display! She designed dresses for First Lady Jackie O Kennedy and other socialites, and it's easy to see why. See the stunning white gown embellished with white appliques in the pictures attached.

The environment is low-lit and has cool temperatures to preserve the integrity of the materials. Flash photography is also prohibited for this reason.

Re: May exhibit Enjoy the intricate details, flounces, sequins, and drapery constructed meticulously from fine fabrics and more modern materials like denim. The garments are accompanied by placards with info about the designers and their sensibilities.

You can easily spend about 20 mins (to an hour, depending on the exhibit) viewing the 2 galleries (even more if you're a design aficionado!). The museum is situated on Fashion Institute of Technology's college campus, a corner of Chelsea with stylish flair.

No luggage, food, beverages, videos, or flash...