This year’s Met Gala and Academy Awards’ red carpet are serving us camp, camp, and camp. Here’s why the irrepressible fashion movement gained such a fabulous foothold in 2019.
The Costume Institute’s 2019 exhibition “Camp: Notes on Fashion” at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art will not feature utilitarian Moncler windbreakers, Prada camouflage backpacks or Louis Vuitton tents. Those expecting rusticity might be surprised to find quirky slogan t-shirts, trompe l’oeil gowns and flashy headpieces in the shape of flamingos instead.
That’s because the theme is a reference to a 1964 essay by American writer Susan Sontag, called Notes on “Camp”. In it, she defined camp as a sensibility that “converts the serious into the frivolous”. And it is within this contextual setting that curator Andrew Bolton framed this year’s exhibition. “By tracing its evolution and highlighting its defining elements, the show will embody the ironic sensibilities of this audacious style, challenge conventional understandings of beauty and taste, and establish the critical role that this important genre has played in the history of art and fashion,” said Max Hollein, Director of the Met.
In short: It is a cornucopia of everything over-the-top, flamboyant, novel, artificial, and in “bad taste” from designers past and present. But don’t confuse camp for its more sophisticated, artful, and elitist cousin: Ugly chic. Camp is anti-serious and totally unintentional in its motivation. It is a stylistic lens through which we see the world for what it isn’t…in order to see what it truly is. In an era dominated by social media, technology and democracy, camp has finally found its place in mainstream culture and society.
FUN FACTOR
This story is from the April 2019 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2019 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The House That Fred Built
FRED, the jewellery Maison that Fred Samuel created, pays tribute to his philosophy of life, light, and an unmistakable bold aesthetic in the art and pioneering craft of precious gems.
Impossible Is Possible
In a marriage of aesthetics and technology, Richard Mille strikes the perfect balance with its RM 07-01 Automatic collection.
Beauty Visual Cues
Amp up your peepers with bold lines and punchy colours that accentuate metallic frames. Librarian chic never looked so good.
Hair - Raising Issues
Unpacking the relationship between hair, health and mental well-being.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
Managing consultant Corinne Ng's brutalist home is a safe space that showcases her passion for minimalist design and playful art.
TWICE AS NICE
Thai actresses Sarocha \"Freen\" Chankimha and Rebecca \"Becky\" Patricia Armstrong have broken barriers for inclusivity with their onscreen portrayals, leaving global audiences wanting more.
FEELS GOOD. MAN
Feather-light hydrators and sunscreens that pamper and protect, without the weight.
MOST WANTED
The Kelly clasp is one the most distinctive visual codes in the Hermès canon-one of the many reasons why a product from the House never needs any logos to be recognisable.
10s ACROSS THE BOARD!
Ten Lee is stepping into an even bigger spotlight. The K-pop superstar opens up about going solo and growing into his many facets.
HOROSCOPE
TAURUS (21 APR - 21 MAY) Happy birthday, Taurus! This May, your life takes the form of a mandala an intricate shape made from coloured sand that is destroyed after its creation. This doesn't mean that you'll lose everything. In fact, the whole month has the potential to be highly abundant, especially around the 19th, when Venus transits through your sign. Be brave and let go of attachments.