The first-ever Amy Winehouse exhibition in the United States will debut at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles next month.
The Recording Academy told The Associated Press that the late British singer’s popular outfits — including her halter dress worn at her final stage performance in Belgrade in 2011 — never-before-seen handwritten lyrics and home video, diary entries and more from her family’s personal archive will make up Beyond Black — The Style Of Amy Winehouse.
The exhibit opens on January 17 and will run to April 13.
Winehouse died on July 23 2011 at her London home from accidental alcohol poisoning at the age of 27.
She only released two albums, Frank and Back To Black, but had a tremendous impact on music fans and her peers, being praised for her jazz-like vocals and honest lyrics.
She won five Grammys at the 2008 show, which she could not attend because was rejected for a US work visa.
The singer, whose hits included Rehab and You Know I’m No Good, was also known for her distinctive look, including her beehive hairdo, cat eyeliner, ballet shoes and tattoos.
The singer’s father, Mitch Winehouse, said in a statement: “Amy always credited my mother, her grandmother Cynthia, as a major influence, both stylistically — as she taught her the importance of grooming and having a look — and musically.
“She liked to call me a ‘cab-driving Sinatra’ and her mother’s side of the family were also musicians.
“Amy not only brought her gift of music to the world, but also her fashion. We’re eager for people to see her bold, beautiful spirit through all forms of her creativity.”
The exhibit will include custom-made, but never worn dresses by Winehouse’s stylist, Naomi Parry, for the singer’s cancelled 2011 summer festival tour; as well as Winehouse’s yellow Preen power dress and red leather heart-shaped Moschino purse from 2007 Brit Awards.
It will also include Winehouse’s 2008 Grammys outfit designed by Dolce & Gabbana; capsule collections designed by Winehouse for Fred Perry’s line, including a black cotton twill varsity-style jacket with grey leather sleeves monogrammed with “Amy” in the front; and a mohair leopard-style pattern cardigan by Dolce & Gabbana that Winehouse was photographed wearing leaving one of her favourite places, the Hawley Arms Pub, in Camden, London.
“She had a clear vision of who she was and what she wanted the world to see,” Winehouse’s stylist, Naomi Parry, said.
“Working with Amy was one of my most satisfying and creative times in my career. I’m excited for the world to finally see the looks we created for what would have been her 2011 summer festival tour.”
Many of the items will be auctioned to benefit the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which works to prevent the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on young people.
The auction will take place at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California, on November 6-7 2021.
