All That Glitters: inside the Barbican’s “vulgar” catalogue
Pearls, glitter, super-sized hats and see-through bodystockings: what do you consider “vulgar”? Barbican is asking that very question in its new exhibition: The Vulgar: Fashion Redefined, which looks at 500 years of fabulous excess across 120 OTT objects from ready-to-wear and couture designers including Chloé, Christian Dior, Pam Hogg, Christian Lacroix, Lanvin, Moschino, Miuccia Prada, Agent Provocateur, Philip Treacy, Viktor & Rolf, Louis Vuitton and Vivienne Westwood.
Rather less vulgar however, is the exhibition’s catalogue. Designed by Charlie Smith Design and published by Koenig Books, the publication is thoughtfully and exquisitely designed, with a pale pink and gold cover. The 256-page, hard-cover tome, edited by Jane Alison and Sinéad McCarthy, includes over 200 images of ready-to-wear, couture and historic fashion, photography, manuscripts and textiles from the exhibition. Illustrations by Alice Smith bring to life definitions, quotes and discussions around the idea of vulgarity by the exhibition’s curator Judith Clark and psychoanalyst and writer Adam Phillips.
The Vulgar: Fashion Redefined is on at Barbican until 5 February 2017.
Barbican: The Vulgar
Barbican: The Vulgar
Barbican: The Vulgar
Barbican: The Vulgar
Barbican: The Vulgar
Barbican: The Vulgar
Barbican: The Vulgar, images courtesy of Charlie Smith design
Barbican: The Vulgar, images courtesy of Charlie Smith design
Barbican: The Vulgar, images courtesy of Charlie Smith design
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Bryony joined It's Nice That as Deputy Editor in August 2016, following roles at Mother, Secret Cinema, LAW, Rollacoaster and Wonderland. She later became Acting Editor at It's Nice That, before leaving in late 2018.