ManStyle

Editorial

The first Australian exhibition ever to focus on men's fashion, ManStyle charts the fickle trends of menswear since 1740 to the present day, and features over 80 works drawn predominantly from the NGV's collection, including a range of remarkable outfits and a selection of paintings illustrating the ever-changing trends in menswear.

Spanning the gallery's two sites in St Kilda Road and Federation Square, the exhibition charts the course of the well-dressed man through the ages, from the elegant brocade and embroidery of the 18th century through to contemporary haute couture. At NGV Australia, discover transformations in the history of tailoring, while at NGV International witness the rise of the peacock male, a history of sartorial decoration and display that has its roots in the Renaissance and Tudor eras and which was spectacularly revived during the 1960s.

ManStyle also explores the role of the suit as a symbol of class and respectability; the assault on respectability waged by the confronting fashions of punk rock in the Seventies; and the current work of designers such as Morrissey & Edmiston and Romance Was Born.

From the glamorous and gorgeous to the functional and formal, this is a must-see exhibition for any well-dressed male, and the women (and men) who love them.

Richard Watts, Citysearch