Whether it’s a bold paint color on the walls or chic curtains that dress up the windows, hints of great personal style can be found in any beautifully decorated home. Now, try to think in reverse: Can the structural elements of a house — like shingles, tile, drywall, and carpet — be turned into wearable garments? For a group of Corcoran interior-design grad students and some local architecture and design firms, the answer is yes.
During a design competition, each team was tasked with fashioning handmade garments inspired by Red Star, a 1970 painting by Raymond Saunders, and as the finale, the contestants were judged in a runway show at Artisphere. The Cosmo Couture exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery of Art showcases the 21 outlandish-yet-impressive gowns crafted from industrial construction materials, and Sunday is your last day to catch it. Sure, you might not end up wearing a frock made out of carpet to your next swanky event, but you might just get inspired to think outside the standard-style box.
When: Today until 5 p.m.; Saturday, October 13, and Sunday, October 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Gallery 31, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street NW; 202-639-1700.
Where: Gallery 31, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street NW; 202-639-1700.
Photo: Courtesy of Corcoran Gallery of Art/R. Scott Kelly