First Lady Michelle Obama Opens The Costume Institute's Anna Wintour Costume Center

First Lady Michelle Obama cutting the ribbon to open The Costume Institute's new Anna Wintour Costume Center yesterday morning. Pictured, from left: Thomas P. Campbell, Director of the Metropolitan Museum; First Lady Michelle Obama; Anna Wintour, Artistic Director of Condé Nast and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue; and Emily K. Rafferty, President of the Metropolitan Museum

Yesterday morning, First Lady Michelle Obama cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of The Costume Institute's new Anna Wintour Costume Center, which has just undergone a two-year renovation. The space will reopen to the public this Thursday, May 8, with the exhibition Charles James: Beyond Fashion.

"I'm here because I'm so impressed by Anna's contributions not just to the fashion industry but also to this great museum," said Mrs. Obama. "This center is for anyone who cares about fashion and how it impacts our culture and our history."

Museum Director Thomas P. Campbell welcomed attendees to the ceremony and remarked that the opening of the Anna Wintour Costume Center represents a "historic day for the Met and for New York. Mrs. Astor used to call the Met the jewel in the crown of New York City, and today we are sparkling just a little brighter."

"There are few things curators crave more for their collections than perfect galleries, ample storage, a significant library, and the research spaces to share their works of art with students and scholars," said Harold Koda, curator-in-charge of The Costume Institute. "The new Anna Wintour Costume Center achieves all these things, named in honor of an extraordinary advocate who has never wavered in her enthusiasm and support for our work. Today is a tribute to Anna's passionate commitment."