British invasion takes over rooms at museum

Vignettes will feature a look at British fashions from 1976 to 2006.
NEW YORK (AP) -- It's another British invasion. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute's next exhibit is called "AngloMania," a look at British fashion from 1976-2006.
The exhibit will be presented in the museum's English Period Rooms, which will show interesting visual contrasts but also highlight similarities in tastes over several centuries, explains Andrew Bolton, associate curator for the Costume Institute.
"Each of the vignettes -- each room will have a theme -- will be based on 18th-century literature or other artistic sources, including William Hogarth. There is so much English humor in William Hogarth prints. He was interested in politics, morals, society -- and all are favorites of British designers," Bolton says. "But there's also romanticism. Think of Alexander McQueen and the underlying romanticism in his work."
Bolton notes that several of the spring 2006 collections, especially Commes des Garcon, referenced classic English fashion.
Punk movement
The museum chose to begin its examination in 1976 because that's when the punk movement really shifted British fashion, Bolton says.
Street style is one of the main driving forces of fashion and with London's thriving club and music scenes, the city often offers a glimpse of things to come. Back in the 1730s, French men were emulating the frock coats of Londoners, and the 1960s were strongly influenced by Britain's Mods.
But while London has always been an epicenter of fashion, it's not considered a "fashion city" the way Paris, New York and Milan are.
In the 1990s, many British designers left London to stage their catwalk shows in Paris, Bolton notes, probably because it exposed their work to a broader audience. But, he adds, British designers are hugely supportive of London's fashion schools.
Public viewing
"AngloMania" will open to the public on May 4, following a benefit gala on May 1 that's co-chaired by Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, Burberry creative director Christopher Bailey and actress Sienna Miller.