Most Coveted Accessory? A Seat on the MFA Fashion Council

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We're dedicating this week to the kind of fantastical living that most of us only get to experience in dreams. Taking a page from casino parlance, we'll be talking a lot about "whales," those big spenders who feel perfectly comfortable dropping tens of thousands of dollars every night on roulette, or, in our case, on Cartier, caviar facials, and Chanel. Welcome to Whale Week 2013.

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• Pair of woman's shoes, 2011; Rodarte. Museum purchase with funds donated by the Fashion Council, Muse. Reproduced with permission. Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• Dress, 2011; Rodarte. Silk. Museum purchase with funds donated by the Fashion Council, Muse. Reproduced with permission. Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Though the Museum of Fine Arts has built an impressive textile collection over several decades, it has increasingly attracted heavy-hitting sartorial programming—a trend which no doubt is emphasized by the Museum's Fashion Council. Think of the Fashion Council as a $1500 add-on to an upper-level membership tier, which in itself can command anywhere from $750 to infinity dollars (starting at $600 for the under 45 set). Subsequently, joining the council is quite the annual investment, but a slew of activities and access demonstrate its value. Perks include everything from stylish travel itineraries (last year was Japan, New York comes up in April) to intimate lectures given by industry experts like Vogue editor Hamish Bowles.

The David and Roberta Logie Department of Textile and Fashion Arts—led by curator Pamela Parmal and in possession of over 27,000 objects—is contributing to a host of upcoming exhibits, including "New Blue and White" which opens February 20 and runs through July 14, 2013. The exhibit focuses on global traditions employing the two colors, featuring a pair of shoes and a gown, both by Rodarte, and acquired with funds donated by the Fashion Council.

While style enthusiasts can always devour the MFA's permanent jewelry exhibit or upcoming collections (stay tuned for details on those), the Fashion Council offers an education-heavy insider's look that is ultimately priceless once the giant check is signed.
· Museum of Fine Arts [Official Site]
· Find Every Mario Testino Book Imaginable at the MFA Shop [Racked Boston]
· All Whale Week coverage [Racked Boston]