When Lady Gaga was not even born...

...there was a Dutch duet whose creations she would definitely wear. 

Gijs Bakker and Emmy Van Leersum, "couple from the year 2000", as they were called by a journalist covering their revolutionary show opening at Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum Edelsmeden 3 (Silversmith 3) back on May 12, 1967, were also partners in real life. In the first five years of their marriage they signed a number of jewelry designs with GIJS+EMMY stamps, represented by two plus signs. 

The duet placed great emphasis on the relationship between jewelry and human body and was the first to use industrial materials such as lightweight aluminum or hard, unruly stainless steel. Space theme, massive and unusual forms, choice of cheap and affordable materials are the main characteristics of their bold creations. 

Decades later, the museum decided to get back to the legendary and provocative designers by creating a temporary show (on view until August 24, 2014) inspired by 1967 exhibition.  

photos of the entry video reconstructing the 1967 show ambience

full video

Probably, these items have been inspiration for Maison Martin Margiela jewelry department

 

 ...and these for Philip Treacy's creations

"basic garments" rejecting the fashion dictates of Parisian haute couture

In 1967 show the garments were worn by designers' friends who shocked the visitors by appearing among them in these futuristic garments and later walked out in the streets of Amsterdam. One witness has claimed to see the "spacemen" while others found them quite "absurd romper suits"

Art in Fashion

If you don't have millions to afford original Damien Hirst's piece, find a set of 12 plates quite pricey as well as a skull for ca.€4000 a bit too much for a small and useless interior design object, now you can buy something arty yet practical to cover your neck from approaching winter cold and wind. 

Starting from today a limited collection of contemporary artist's designs for Alexander McQueen brand is found in stores. I admit to like Hirst as a textile designer more than an artist, maybe because I like scarves and crave for the one of McQueen.

Probably, the history of collaboration between art and fashion goes even beyond Salvador Dali's drawing a lobster on for Elsa Schiaparelli's dress. Btw, do you know that Dali was an exceptional jewelry designer: when he was short in money and his paintings were not sold he was doing exclusive and exquisite jewelry pieces. My favorite is brooch with a mechanism that imitates human's beating heart  (according to doctors mechanical heart pulsates as a real one).

Among recent portable art projects, I can recall Louis Vuitton's summer 2012 collaboration with Yayoi Kusama that allowed to embellished her recognizable dots on bags and sunglasses, turning them into eccentric accessories and Anselm Reyle for Dior in 2011. Who will be next?

Since high-end fashion brand designers and stars make limited edition collection for H&M, some contemporary artists should join them as well making early 20th century communist slogan "Искусство в массы" ("Art into Masses") reach fashion masses. Do you think this might dilute gallery and auction prices for these artists' works? 

February 6, 2014 addition: 

Inspired by Andy Warhol and model Twiggy, Pop Wrap Limited Edition collection celebrates DVF's 40 year anniversary of the wrap dress. The video is made by Alia Penner.