DIVA: an exhibition of show-stopping outfits worn by iconic performers hits Auckland
Elton John's 50th birthday suit, Janelle Monáe's "vagina pants" and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's "Millennium Coat" are among the hundreds of splendid costumes on display at Auckland Museum's new DIVA exhibition.
DIVA - which was originally held at London's V&A Museum in 2023 - is a tribute to ambition and artistry, says V&A curator Kate Bailey.
While the collection isn't short on fabulous 'fits, she hopes the "great innovator" that is Lorde might make a sartorial contribution before it finishes up in October.
"It would be a wonderful thing to add Lorde to the canon of divadom," she tells Saturday Morning.
Lorde at the 2025 Met Gala in a grey skirt and bandeau set by Thom Browne.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue/AFP
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Bailey hopes visitors to DIVA will be moved and wowed by the stunning collection of over 208 costumes, photographs and personal items, which includes handwritten song lyrics from the British singer Sade.
Some pieces - the " incredibly theatrical" Louis IV costume Sir Elton John wore to his 50th birthday party - were contributed by the divas themselves or their fashion designers.
The Martin Margiela outfit Rihanna wore to the 2018 Met Gala took 750 hours to make.
RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Others - like the "wonderful" costume worn by American silent movie actress Theda Bara in the 1917 film Cleopatra - are part of the V&A's own collection.
While the word "diva" conjures up the image of a self-focused performer, divas are often "multi-faceted personas" who champion important causes, Bailey says.
"Divas, through time, use their platform to make a difference, whether that's civil rights, whether that's campaigning for HIV or fighting for causes for climate change. So there's a sense of diva activism."
A pair of black satin heels worn by the late musician Prince.
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The diverse array of divas represented in the exhibition - including a photograph of a bare-chested Freddie Mercury wearing an ermine coat - demonstrates the "fluidity" of the term, Bailey says.
Self-empowerment is really what it's about.
"People can all find their inner diva, and it's a term of strength and power."
DIVA is on at the Auckland Museum until Sunday 19 October 2025.
A selection of costumes from the Auckland Museum's DIVA exhibition.
RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Sketch of Mackie look worn by Cher for the inaugural. Rock Music Awards, 1975.
Original Artwork by Costume and Fashion Designer, Bob Mackie
