Through a selection of clothing, accessories, photographs, paintings,
posters and videos, Mode et sport (Fashion and Sport) investigates the
fascinating links between two very different, often unrelatable worlds -
fashion and sport - focusing on an overlooked similarity that these two
worlds share, their relation to the human body. From the cumbersome tennis
dresses of the 19th century to the iconic Lacoste polo shirt, by way of the
immediately recognizable yellow jersey of the Tour de France, the exhibition
traces the history of sports apparel from Antiquity to the present day,
highlighting emblematic clothing and the specific accessories of athletic
disciplines, including tennis, skating, football and skateboarding. Mode
et sport also reveals how sportswear made its mark on urban fashions
beginning in the 1920s, shifting from being worn exclusively during athletic
pursuits to become part of the everyday urban wardrobe. The exhibition also
highlights the pioneering fashion designers of the Inter-War Period, including
Gabrielle Chanel, Jeanne Lanvin, Jean Patou, and Elsa Schiaparelli, whose
designs reflected the new demands placed on clothing without neglecting
the elegance of haute couture. Lastly, the exhibition reminds us of how
in the world of contemporary fashion, sport has become omnipresent,
with logos, insignias and sneakers that invade advertising campaigns and
fashion shows to major collaborations between fashion houses and sports
companies - great athletes of the modern day have quite literally become
ambassadors for luxury brands.