LIGHTS, CAMERAS: Going Hollywood meant a one-name moniker for the costume designer Adrian, who was more often than not associated with Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow and the other marquee actresses he dressed.
That part of his portfolio, as well as his ready-to-wear designs, will be explored in “Adrian: Hollywood and Beyond,” an exhibition that bows at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology on March 7 and runs through April 1. Researched by graduate students in the Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice program, the show will home in on Adrian’s unexpected use of textiles, such as a Wesley Simpson cloth that was illustrated by Salvador Dalí. That will be among the garments showcased with textiles, ads and film clips that show Adrian’s use of printed textiles and unexpected construction methods. At the height of his career at MGM Studios, the designer’s creations were believed to be the most copied clothes in the world, since millions were tuning in to watch the big names, he suited up for the silver screen. His knack for translating Paris fashion trends for a star and magnifying the look for a dramatic effect that enhanced a film’s narrative distinguished his
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