Bellissima exhibition at MAXXI – Rome
The title of the exhibition made me reflect about the vision of fashion in the past: its aim was mainly a “decor” for the person to make her “Bellissima” and nothing else. It could seem something obvious, but I think about the concept of fashion today, and I realize that stays mainly in having the same style as everybody else or hide behind a temporary appereance. Vintage, intended as protagonist art of renaissance after the ruins of the Second World War, especially on Italy and France, teaches that fashion is expression, personality and design on the real person.
At that time, stylists were linked more to a concept of “artists” than the abstract impact of their name.
In fact, walking among the creations of Irene Galitzine, Emilio Schuberth, Sorelle Fontana, Gucci, Roberta di Camerino, Jole Veneziani, Fausto Sarli, Valentino, Biki, Roberto Capucci, Coppola, I perceive immediately the deep connection between fashion and art, which is something that has been sacrified by and aesthetic based on industry and the too much privation of feminine details in favor of a too basic style.
I also express few reflections. It is relevant that the exhibition covers the period between 1945 and 1968. Why this choice? The true “Renaissance” in fashion happens in that time under the optimistic attitude of reconstruction from the ruins of the war. In Italy, the importance of fashion goes together with the presence of Hollywood stars especially in Rome, which is something that gives an image of gret happiness to the whole country. 1968 represents a big “break” with the past, and a lot of this positive atmosphere ends or directs to aesthetic ideas considered more “progressive”.
Going out of MAXXI, I am even more convinced that the stylish touch of the best Vintage can make us emerge in an artistic and positive way, in a renewed dialogue beetween past and present.
