THE WHITE SHIRT IN MY OPINION. GIANFRANCO FERRE.

‘My idea of a white shirt. Gianfranco Ferre’ is a travelling exhibition celebrating the designer’s creative talent and architectural approach, currently exhibiting at the Sala delle Cariatidi at Milan’s Royal Palace. In all honestly this exhibition has to be one of the most powerful and astounding shows I have ever been to. The show has been organised by the Milan-based Gianfranco Ferre Foundation and showcases 27 key white shirt designs by the designer from 1982 to 2006.

The designs made from organza, silk, poplin and taffeta were neatly displayed on black mannequins, which were suspended by metal cables, organised in rows of 5. The exhibition room was strategically lit with well-thought-out spot lighting positioned over the mannequins giving an illusion of floating bodies. The exhibition could be viewed from all angles, allowing the viewers to inspect every detail of the designs. The exhibition also included drawings, photographs, editorial images, advertising and installations which only added to the already impressive collection of work. The exhibit emphasised Ferre attention to geometric cuts and fabrics, and perfectly demonstrated the designer’s ability to couple creativity with discipline.

‘The genius loci (in Latin, the atmosphere of the place) and its charm evoke poetry, fantasy and dreams. Fashion is imagination and also a dream, as well as scientific rigor, culture and research.’

I really liked the fact the exhibition included the designer’s sketches - some drawings were pieces of art in their own rights - and runway pictures as these made the show more personal, and allowed the viewers to see what the shirts looked like on a person (some of the designs looked impossible to wear).

#WhiteShirt #exhibition #GianfrancoFerre