Now celebrating its fifth birthday, the LACMA Muse Costume Ball, held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, manages to be swanky without being stuffy. Don't let the name throw you -- it isn't a ball for muses (although there will assuredly be many of those in attendance); rather, Muse is a group for younger LACMA members and artists. And while this collective naturally supports the more traditional lectures and talks and films at the museum, a few times each year the members like to get gussied up, get down and get funky. The fabulous result? The Costume Ball.
Le Femme Digitale provides the music and the absinthe is Pernod, but the sass/attitude/je ne sais quoi-ness has to come straight from the attendees. There's a red carpet to strut, an outlandish costume contest to enter and loads of stylish people to delight, impress and even make a pinch jealous. In short, when you start planning that outfit, skip the grungy, ripped wear from years past and doll up with vintage baubles, sequins, beauty marks, bared shoulders, cravats and leather pants. That's right, leather, not pleather.
We'd long to dress as something from LACMA's collection -- say, the pearl-sporting woman in Roy Lichenstein's "Cold Shoulder" (we'd also act very princess-y and chilly and curt to everyone we spoke to, to keep in character). Or maybe as one of Chris Burden's lampposts. Too meta?
Note that individual tickets are sold out, but the museum has some Muse packages that include tickets to the ball; check official site for details.
Saturday, November 1
8:15PM-Midnight
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard
323-857-6000
