The Met Renames Costume Institute the Anna Wintour Costume Center

[miguelalmeida]

In case anyone still doesn't know yet ...

Anna Wintour's name was already going to go down in history, but the Metropolitan Museum of Art just announced that it's essentially going to be carved in stone too.

When the Met's Costume Institute reopens in May with an exhibit on designer Charles James, it will be renamed the Anna Wintour Costume Center. It's a tribute that will only further cement the editor's place as the most powerful woman in fashion, and the honor is certainly well deserved. Wintour has raised nearly $125 million for the museum in her 14 years as a Met trustee, and she also helped bring in the center's $40 million toward renovation costs. The annual Met Gala, which celebrates the center's annual exhibit, might as well be called Anna's Party.

"Anna Wintour's extraordinary advocacy and fundraising have made this state-of-the-art space a reality," said Museum chairman Daniel Brodsky in a statement. "She has the rare ability to rally diverse groups across a wide range of industries to support the Costume Institute, so it can educate and inspire visitors from around the world."

This accolade is no small potatoes compared to Wintour's other achievements. Last March, Condé Nast named her its artistic director amid speculation that her fundraising efforts for President Obama's reelection campaign would earn her an ambassadorship. That rumor didn't turn out to be true — but does it matter now that there's a cherished museum department named after her?

source: fabsugar.com

 

[MulletProof]

 

[Omnis]

They couldn't have waited until she passed?

 

[jennifer~]

Her expression in the photo kind of matches my sentiments.

 

[CommanderTMugler]

Really? Anna Wintour Costume Center? The jokes write themselves. Wintour Costume Institute would be much better. Let's see how next years Wintour Ball goes...

 

[wild roses]

I was hoping this was a joke, and if they were going to name it after someone, it should been Diana Vreeland, who did so much to make the Costume Institute an integral part of the museum. (I do think Wintour has done stuff herself, but I don't think she deserves all the credit.)

 

[softgrey]

 

[TianSoFine]

Something about this seems a bit...morbid?

 

[VogueDisciple93]

I agree about the Diana Vreeland remark, it would be a better choice, but I think Anna has done enough for this honor.

 

[Littleathquakes]

It just doesn't have a nice ring to it the way "Costume Institute" does, no offense to Anna, it just sounds so sycophantic on the Met's part.

 

[Les_Sucettes]

:Really?

 

[Niusity]

Costume Center, seriously? I love Anna but this just sound wrong on so many levels.

This picture popped in my head:

elle.fr

 

[eternitygoddess]

I REALLY thought April 1 had arrived early when I read this thread's title.

 

[Not Plain Jane]

I agree that Institute sounds better than Centre, which sounds down-graded or something. Maybe they wanted the 2 "CC"'s??

Anyhow, don't like it. It makes me think of a Shopping Centre more than an "Institute," which sounds less commercial and more academic/historical.

 

[Fashionturnip]

costume sounds so.....cheap tacky lowclass, naff? i cant think of the word.

Maybe because I associate it with cheap halloween costumes. Not really anna wintour or couture.