Rather than being a historical narrative or an unravelling of a particular designer's work, Dress Code is laid out under a series of themes, all of which spur questions of fashion's intricate codes. For example, is it a violation of the code to walk around outside naked? Is it necessary to be artistically and culturally literate? Should you be aware of how others look at you? Is it wrong to listen to what adults say? Can everyone be fashionable? And do all of the above criteria make fashion an endless game?
The title of the exhibition hits the spot in terms of topicality. Among many examples, China's fixation with gamification and its relation to the world of fashion and cosmetics has seen luxury brands attempt to make their offerings more playful via arcade-style promotions, claw-grabbing machines and digital live-streaming events. And as it is in competitive sports, the players and spectators can be interchangeable.
