Last Saturday evening, a crowd gathered inside the precocious pink Fashion and Textile Museum to see; ‘Undercover: An Evolution of Underwear’. The museum’s latest exhibition showcases famous undergarments from the likes of Twiggy and Dita Von Teese, as well as offering a daring trajectory of the historical background from a range of underwear from corsets to suspenders, and bras to knickers.
On this particular night, an extra zest of theatre had been injected into the exhibition. As part of the London Bridge festivities, creative events company; ‘I Think I’m Here Darling Where Are You?’ had organised an extravagant, yet bizarre evening of performance for the crowds. From poetry to nearly-nude life drawing classes, there was a variety of entertainment at hand. The night’s finale even consisted of leather-clad models crudely parading through the exhibition itself, resulting in a rather risqué display of raunch and frivolity. Despite the evening having a vibrant and lively atmosphere, it was clear that this seedy spectacle pushed boundaries beyond the audience’s limits. The event quickly became a crude exhibition of nudity opposed to a presentation of the delicate undergarments that were supposed to be on display.
Yet beneath this melodrama, ‘Undercover’ is a playful exhibition; delving deep into the social and historical contexts of undergarments that are readily overlooked. Both informative and enjoyable to discover, this is a delightful exhibition featuring an array of designers from La Perla to Wonderbra. Perhaps the only aspect missing from the exhibition is the exploration of men’s undergarments, which would have added an extra layer to this already insightful showcase. Overall, the exhibition should certainly be visited if you happen to be wondering down Bermondsey Street and come across the pink beacon that is Zandra Rhode’s Fashion and Textile Museum.
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