WAG was invited to the recent press/member opening preview of “Judith Leiber: Crafting a New York Story” at the Museum of Arts and Design in Manhattan.
Of course, we jumped at the chance to see the exhibition advanced in our current issue and to catch up with curator Samantha De Tillio, MAD’s assistant curator, who shared her thoughts for our story.
The well-attended event was as dazzling as we had expected, with the famed handbag designer’s trademark sparkling minaudières taking center stage within a broad showcase of her varied styles.
But as with all MAD “maker” exhibitions, there is an emphasis on the creative process, which along with dozens of handbags on view through Aug. 6 tells the Leiber story.
From an elaborate timeline and details such as wax models, the show’s features offer a glimpse into Leiber’s incredible run of nearly seven decades in the fashion and accessories world.
Before we headed to MAD, we also took a quick trip to Herald Square to check out Macy’s annual flower show, this year called “Carnival.” It not only amped up our enthusiasm for our garden-themed May issue but also added a lovely surprise to our day.
Turns out the Macy’s 34th Street windows are carrying a “Celebrate Spring” motif – and what a way they’re doing it. We were more than pleased to see the latest fashions worn by the most delightful mannequins, “Mes Demoiselles” by Rebecca Moses, provided by Ralph Pucci.
It kind of tied the whole trip together, as WAG Weekly recently featured the unveiling of the mannequins at the Pucci showroom. And that evening served as a bit of a follow-up to our previous cover story on Pucci himself, which we wrote around the time his own “maker story” was featured at – yes, that’s right – the Museum of Arts and Design.
Funny how things work out that way.
For more, visit madmuseum.org.
– Mary Shustack
