After undergoing renovations for nearly two years, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute will reopen in May with a shiny new gallery, an updated costume conservation laboratory—and a brand new name. The institute in the New York City museum will be renamed the Anna Wintour Costume Center, after the high-powered Vogue editor-in-chief, the New York Times reports.
It’s not just her position atop the prestigious fashion magazine that has earned Wintour the de facto title of the most powerful woman in fashion. Wintour is the artistic director for Condé Nast and has been a Met trustee for 15 years. She has also been credited with revamping the Costume Institute’s fundraisers by turning its annual gala into a must-attend event for fashion and Hollywood elite. The Times also notes that Wintour has raised “about $125 million for the Costume Institute alone.”
The Anna Wintour Costume Center will open on May 8, with the inaugural exhibition, “Charles James: Beyond.”
[NYT]