Many people claim fashion is a way of exploitation, that it’s completely unnecessary, and that its main purpose is to make women pay huge amounts of money for a dress that she won’t even wear next year.
There surely is some portion of truth in it but fashion is also a source and outcome of inspiration, and inspiration, my friends, is never unnecessary.
Regardless of your like or dislike towards fashion, the Museum of Design and Fashion or simply MUDE (meaning “change” in Portuguese) is a must-see sight for all tourists planning to visit Lisbon. MUDE is different from other traditional museums, it’s a path through history of beauty.
It displays the history of fashion starting from 1930s till today. And it doesn’t speak in theory, but in facts. Just picture this, some of the most epic items that had changed continents are displayed right here. Here are a few examples just to give you an idea of what to expect.
The museum was first opened in 1999, closed in 2006, and reopened in 2009. The location is central, only minutes away from the key attractions of Lisbon.
There are both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The former ones are organized on the first floor, while the latter is fixed on the ground floor. The permanent collection initially belonged to Francisco Capelo. It includes around 1200 pieces of items significant in their design, the majority of which is couture.
Don’t be surprised at the interior of the museum , the luxurious collection looks very contrasting next to the walls without finishes.
The collection of the museum focuses on the development of styles in many different spheres, not only clothing. It includes the legendary BMW Isetta. The car comes from Germany, 1959. If you are familiar with this beauty, then you might remember its bubble windows and the door opening from the front. It’s such a pity this design, which is Italian, didn’t survive till the 21st century.
Another popular design that you will definitely recognize is the Bocca sofa, a.k.a. Merilyn lips in the USA. Tempting red lips were turned into a comfy sofa by Salvador Dali in 1936. The inspiration for this sofa were the lips of Mae West. Considering that West is a legend herself, sitting “on her lips” must be twice as legendary.
The sofa became extremely popular in 1970s, while, now there are only 1000 such sofas in the world. It is the symbol of modern and creative designs that will remain prestigious regardless of the time.
The next part of the collection includes clothing fashion. The best works of some of the most influential designers as John-Paul Gaultier are displayed for curious eyes. These pieces are not just cloths, they are works of art. Look closer and you will see an incredibly big attention on detail and design. After all, fashion is not only about trends, it’s about originality and uniqueness.
The most remarkable dresses of today’s actors and actresses are also available for staring.
Finally, one of the most important factors that will put the museum on your list is the admission, which, get ready, is free of charge. You can enter and spend hours inside studying the exhibitions, or you can make a quick stroll along the halls and leave. In both cases, you’re not losing anything.
