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Patrick Kelly at the Art Museum: Fast Fashion at Its Core

Image credit: Oliviero Toscani/Philadelphia Museum of Art
Image credit: Oliviero Toscani/Philadelphia Museum of Art

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Proving that fashion really is cyclical, the Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love exhibit hits the Art Museum on Sunday, bringing with it '80s-era body-con dresses you wouldn't be surprised to see on the racks at H&M—or on Lady Gaga.

More than 80 of the Mississippi-born designer's "fast fashion" ensembles will be on display, spotlighting Kelly's signature aesthetic: vibrantly-colored, figure-forming knit frocks—replete with buttons and playful patterns—inspired by the designer's African American heritage and Southern roots. Also drawing inspiration from gay subcultures in New York and LA, Kelly's work pushed boundaries in the '80s fashion world.

Kelly died from AIDS in 1990; however, his influence on streetwear lives on. See for yourself this weekend, or stop by the museum before the exhibit concludes November 30, 2014.
· Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love [Philadelphia Museum of Art]

Philadelphia Museum of Art

2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130