Exotic Taste Today: MCQUEEN

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Exotic Taste Today-
that phrase might just be embodied by
none other than Daphne Guinness

Daphne Guinness photograph by Bryan Adams

I think of Kabuki when I see photographs of Daphne Guinness. I have said I believe she is the is a  modern day performance artist. As with Kabuki- what Guinness does is highly stylized. The classical Japanese dance-drama of Kabuki involves a synthesis of theatre -elaborate make-up and costume.  

kabuki ,kabuku, meaning "to lean" or "to be out of the ordinary" "avant-garde" or "bizarre" theatre.

wearing Givenchy, from Alexander McQueen’s tenure there in 2004.

Who work more than Guiness's favored designer the late Alexander McQueen & now his champion Sarah Burton evokes the Exotic.

McQueen, Guinness, and Sir John Lavery,  at far right, his painting of HAZEL IN ROSE AND GOLD

Alexander McQueen's Feather Dress, from the Met's Savage Beauty Exhibition

Often wearing McQueen, still Exotic, in the most refined way is actress Cate Blanchett

 

China Machado in McQueen,photographed by Bruce Weber for W

Michelle Obama wearing McQueen to a State Dinner, at left & r, shoe designer & fashion editor for Vogue- Tabitha Simmons is often photographed wearing McQueen

Bjork wearing McQueen for her 1997 album cover

This scant post touches on one designer that continues to reach for the Exotic. This  & the original post here- along with some others to come- is inspired by the book Exotic Taste by Emmanuelle Gaillard.

On a more scholarly note, Emile de Bruijn at the National Trust is looking at examples of Chinoiserie at the houses and in the collections of the National Trust on his site TREASURE HUNT-
 Here is a list of these posts-


Chinese Wallpaper: a living tradition here

Pagodas Please here
The East India Company at home here
The allure of the strange here
& this one-just for the pure delight, Cultural cross-dressing here

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