Louvre Couture (if you can't get to Paris

I’m a tad embarrassed to admit I hadn’t been to the Louvre in years.

It’s overwhelming. Always packed. Give me the Musée d’Orsay any day.

But when a very-plugged-in friend raved about the Louvre Couture exhibit, I bit the bullet, bought the ticket, braved the lines, and beat my way through the crowds.

The museum has done something pretty amazing: enticed thousands of people to spend hours in galleries that are normally empty.

All those endless cases of objects from Byzantine times (400-1400AD) through the 2nd Empire (mid-1800’s).

Mosaics, crosses, ceramics, furniture. Bo-ring.

Not when you sprinkle fabulous couture creations in each gallery.

There are 99 pieces from 45 fashion houses.

It’s like an Easter egg hunt. Where’s the Dior? Is that Alexander McQueen?

I am not a fashionista (as you can tell from my wardrobe). But I did appreciate the resonance between fashion and the past.

Here are a few pics of the items that floated my boat. And of course, I save the best for last!

1. Cross my heart - with sequined crosses.

   
   

   Gianni Versace for Versace.

   
   

   You can see by the crosses how he was inspired by a Byzantine exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum in New York (go Met!).

 And examples of Byzantine crosses right beside the dress.

2. You gotta laugh.

   Jonathan Anderson for Loewe. A pug mugging it up. Those royals did love their dogs. Partially because they were one of the few creatures they could trust to always love them! It's hard to see - but this entire garment is entirely beaded ("caviar beads").

3. YOU GOTTA LAUGH Part 2. Rick Owens pushes the idea of hoop skirts way out there. You may get he is a lover of Egyptian art. He has a sarcophagus outside his house in Venice.

4. My sleeves runneth over...with flowers. Alexander McQueen referring to still life paintings. It would be tough to type while wearing this.

5. Fabulous Fashion in Faience. Nicolas Fouquay's bust of“Spring” (1730) One of my favorites moments of "mode" on the whole show.

6. GOLDEN GIRL! Ok, this I would wear. If I were 100 years younger. Versace (Donatella) For me, this is the the most striking melding of modern creation and historical period. The fabric recalls the Orientalist wall covering made for Louis XVI’s brother.

   
   

7. You Gotta Laugh Part 4. I know I should be more tickled by this...but I just think it's B*tt *gly. Don't tell John Galliano (for Dior).

8. All that glitters - past and present. Dolce and Gabbana gloves with religious mosaics. I would wear these. I bet Michael Jackson would have, too.

   

   9. All That Glitters Part 2 Lagerfeld for Chanel. They called belts "girdles" back then. And the jewels you wore were like armor - they told everyone how powerful you were. So back off, baby!

   
   

   

   10. You Gotta Laugh - I've forgotten what number cause there was so much ridiculosity. They should have been playing "Who Killed Bambi" on repeat. JC de Castelbajac (who? I'm such a know-nothing with cutting edge couture...)

   
   

   

   11. LOVE THIS! A cathedral for the body. Iris Van Herpen created this with 3D printing on polyamide overlaid with copper electroplating. Probably not very comfortable - but what price beauty?

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   12. FASHION as PROTECTION. It is, isn't it? Announces who you are. This piece and it's medieval mate make the connection abundantly clear.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE EXHIBIT? Share your thoughts, your pix - so curious to hear!