Epic Fashion Life – Daphne Guinness

It didn’t start with the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the Met. Nor did it start with the recent Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Nan Kemper, or even Princess Diana exhibits that have toured wholesale wedding dresses the world. But the public’s recent fascination and thirst for big museum-scale fashion exhibitions seems to be at a fever pitch, especially given the monstrous success of the McQueen exhibit.

So it is not particularly surprising that one of, if not the most, talked about women in fashion, Daphne Guinness, is about to launch an exclusive look into her epic collection with an exhibit at F.I.T. in New York. While the exhibit has been in the works for quite some time, the frenzy of the McQueen exhibit coupled with her own personal McQueen connection and recent fashion endeavors could propel her into a fashion superstar stratosphere the likes of which have never been seen before.  Could Ms. Guinness become the dropship wedding dresses most iconic and important figure in fashion to have ever walked in gothic stiletto’s? Is she already?

But what I find intriguing about this story, more so than her collection of incredible haute-couture, is the relationships Ms. Guinness has developed and lost, and the isolation that must accompany this sort of fame and iconic status. Its no secret that with Alexander McQueen’s still relatively recent suicide, Ms. Guinness has now lost two of those with whom she closely shared her world. The first of course being Isabella Blow, the famed British stylist and muse, who took her own life just a few years ago. Ms. Guinness quite famously “rescued” Isabella’s collection prior to its dismantling and auction at Chrisitie’s last year. (Daphne wrote an incredibly moving piece in the Financial Times about her decision to buy Isabella Blow’s complete collection; which is a must read.)

Ms. Guinness seems to be in unique position to tell a story and educate on the toll of the success and fame, the stress and frustration, and the often times clear pain of those living and creating in the fashion and art worlds. What could she shed on the light, notoriety, sell wedding dresses and scrutiny that the public and press inflict on a select few, while others struggle to gain that same light, notoriety, and scrutiny? What would she say she’s learned from, and what would she want to teach, as a result of her journey and fame?

While I’m as excited as the next lover of art and fashion to see the F.I.T. exhibit, I’m more intrigued to learn her thoughts and lessons on a life that’s been lived such as hers.