MUSEE DES ARTS DECORATIFS

One of the biggest misconceptions that I hear about cities are that they're too expensive. Sure, the rent's extortionate, a Starbucks latté costs 4 Euros and the Eiffel Tower is the world's biggest rip-off but there are so many incredible things to do over here on a budget, and being a student over here (or just young in general) gives you access to a staggering array of discounts and freebies. For example, all Paris museums are free to EU citizens under 26 years old, and on the first Sunday of every month they're free entry to everyone! So today I decided to abuse this privilege and go to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs to see 'Le mécanisme des dessous', an exhibition documenting the internal structures of historical garments such as corsets and crinolines. Although the synopsis makes it sound pretty niche, there's a room at the end which shows the influence of these pieces on modern fashion, and there are pieces from Comme des Garçons, McQueen and Mugler whose undisputable beauty can appeal to everyone.

Comme des Garçons, 'White Drama'

The exhibition is an interesting social commentary too - it shows the suffering that women would go through to create the illusion of a perfect silhouette and also how men had to constantly conform to visual interpretations of 'virility'. The women would wear 'faux-culs' (fake arses - genuine translation) to contrast their waists which were clasped shut with corsets made from metal wires, while the men would wear calf padding and wear cups to enhance their, erm, 'masculinity'. The Victorians were, apparently, all about mating.