Daphne Guinness On Her Window Dressing Stunt: 'I'm Not Dita Von Teese, Nor Shall I Be'

Daphne Guinness spoke to Cathy Horyn about her upcoming sartorial stunt -- getting dressed for the Costume Institute Gala in the windows at Barneys New York.

She previously explained to Vogue:

I went for a meeting with Dennis Freedman, the new creative director of Barneys, and to my considerable astonishment found myself agreeing to his exciting but giddying proposition to hand over the windows of Barneys for a six-week run starting May 2 to showcase pieces from my own collection that have special resonance for me (Daphne Guinness: Nothing for Sale?!). What was I thinking? As the crowning moment of the installation, I will be getting dressed and readied for the Costume Institute Gala in the windows--me as performance art! I am hoping that my costume (McQueen, of course) will fit.

I will also show a vignette of Isabella's own extraordinary pieces, reflections of her oh-so-Romanesque life, with the priceless help of Philip Treacy and some of Isabella's dearest friends and collaborators. I feel this fits with the zeitgeist of what is happening in New York in early May. Isabella certainly would have wanted to celebrate Alexander at the Met. And similarly, Alexander would have been mortified by her absence from it. So it feels like the right thing to do. The rapid pace with which this has all happened has made me question my sanity, as I am currently knee-deep in life and other projects, but you might as well be hung for a sheep than a lamb! Why not add on another layer?

So what exactly does this "layer" entail? Don't expect a peep show. Guinness told the New York Times, “I am not doing a burlesque — no way. I’m going to be getting dressed behind something. I’m not Dita Von Teese, nor shall I be.”

Mind...wandering...do you think she, like, hangs out with Dita? Anyway, Daphne added, “My feeling is that this is another piece of evidence that, yes, there is a commercial side to fashion that is needed, but there are these crossover moments that do become art. I hope it works, and I don’t faint.”

Read the rest at NYTimes.com.

Comments

[Mythos]

02:05 PM on 04/30/2011

It sounds like a wonderful idea that will go off nicely. It's very appropriate considering how avant garde Guinness is. I think fashionista's will be very interested to see how she gets into those elaborate ensembles of hers and adds this and that to them to make the look complete. And though she will not be a "Dita Von Teese" style showing, the two are both meticulous with assembling their unique style. This similarity is what initially drove me to read this article.

[usrnmna]

09:22 AM on 04/30/2011

Daphne: Ugh. Guinness ale: Thumbs up!

[masha2009]

05:49 PM on 04/28/2011

what about lady gaga?

guiness is ridiculous.

[colleenos]

03:25 PM on 04/28/2011

I would love to know what Daphne thinks she means by 'Romanesque', describing Isabella Blow's life. Not wishing to be harsh, as Daphne really does seem to be a sweetheart, but she's been over-feted, and now sprays nonsense all around, as is so often the case. But she did right by La Blow, so fair play to her.

[Daisytoo]

02:24 PM on 04/28/2011

She's beginning to look like a Martian. She ought to eat something.

[enlightenedgirl]

12:23 PM on 04/28/2011

What's up with the headlines today?  All of the 'teasers" have nothing to do with the story.  Come on, I've been here for a long time and the future of this site only leads me to disbelief of how cheesy it's gotten.  

Shame, this use to be the place to go to, now, who cares???

[littlepuffycloud]

10:50 AM on 04/28/2011

Nice bobby pins.