LONDON (AP) — A brand new exhibition in Paris celebrates the historical past of vogue — as worn by Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.
“Snoopy In Style,” which opens Saturday, pays tribute to Charles M. Schulz and his beloved creations by looking at the evolution of the characters’ outfits and their context in — and influence on — popular culture ahead of the 75th anniversary of the “Peanuts” cartoon on Oct. 2.
The primary time Schulz drew Charlie Brown, he didn’t have his iconic zig-zag shirt. Peppermint Patty’s stance on what to put on to high school pre-dates a authorized change for ladies’ uniform. And Snoopy has been dressed by among the world’s high designers, from Chanel to Fendi to Vivienne Westwood.
Seventy-five outfits created for the smooth toy variations of Snoopy and his sister Belle are on show, together with these designed by Dolce & Gabbana, Betsey Johnson, Zac Posen and Christian Siriano.
“We have dolls from every single designer around the world. Chanel is here. Karl Lagerfeld is here. Dolce Gabbana, Balmain,” Peanuts Worldwide executive Melissa Menta said. “We also have 18 sets of dolls that include Lacoste, and also Valentino by Alessandro Michele.”
Schulz’s widow Jeannie Schulz, who’s the founding father of The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Analysis Heart, stated the cartoonist “understood that comic strip characters had to have a style.”
“He realized after some time that it’s essential know instantly who the character is and what that character represents. In order that’s when Charlie Brown acquired the stripe and Lucy acquired the painted costume and Sally acquired a bow,” she stated.
The present highlights a cultural distinction in how Peanuts has been embraced in the USA and Europe, Menta stated.
“In the United States, we know them from these classic specials: ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ is something that most Americans really embrace Peanuts for. But here in Europe, it’s most often known as a fashion brand,” she stated.
Classic vogue impressed by Snoopy and buddies can also be on show, from the likes of Marc Jacobs and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac –- whose affection for Snoopy led to a memorable catwalk second in 1989, when Vanessa Paradis modelled a jacket totally lined with Snoopy plush toys for his fall-winter assortment.
His “King Snoopy” statue additionally holds court docket, whereas elsewhere within the exhibition the classic Peanuts merchandise on present dates again to the Sixties.
Requested why Peanuts continues to enchantment 75 years on, Jeannie Schulz stated she could not inform “how much is just because that dog is very cute and very lovable and very sweet … (and) how much also the comic strip represents humanity.”
“The characters in the comic strip, even Snoopy, worry about whether people like him,” she said. “Charlie Brown doesn’t know who likes him and how he fits in the world.”
The free exhibition runs March 22 via April 5 at Hôtel du Grand Veneur within the Marais district of Paris.
___ Related Press journalist Deborah Gouffran contributed to this report.
