Tilda Swinton: The Surreal World

Joseph Sacco’s Oeil de Jeune Femme, 1844.

In the de Menils’ dressing room, with doors painted by Charles James. Tilda Swinton wears a Zac Posen gown, $13,990, Bergdorf Goodman, New York, 212.753.7300; Francesco Scognamiglio corset, francescoscognamiglio.it; Gaspar Gloves gloves, $24, gaspargloves.com.

In the de Menils’ Houston residence, Chanel muse Lady Amanda Harlech, evoking Maria Ruspoli, the Duchess of Gramont (a great friend of the de Menils who introduced them to Charles James), wears Carolina Herrera blouse, $990, and skirt, $1,990, Carolina Herrera, New York, 212.249.6552; Mikimoto gold and cultured pearl earrings, $860, Saks Fifth Avenue, 877.551.SAKS; Prada scarf, $285, prada.com; LaCrasia Gloves gloves, $500, lacrasiagloves.com. Swinton wears Carolina Herrera blouse, $1,690, and skirt, $2,490, Carolina Herrera, New York, 212.249.6552; Assael gold and South Sea cultured pearl necklace, $8,800, select Neiman Marcus stores, 888.888.4757; Prada scarf, $285, prada.com; LaCrasia Gloves gloves, $250, lacrasiagloves.com.

In the framing department of the Menil Collection, Swinton wears Calvin Klein Collection cape and dress, prices upon request, Calvin Klein Collection, New York, 212.292.9000; Oscar de la Renta pumps, $750, oscardelarenta.com.

In the entrance of the Menil Collection, Swinton wears Balenciaga custom jacket and trousers, prices upon request, balenciaga.com; Balenciaga sweater, $995, Bergdorf Goodman, New York, 212.753.7300; Sermoneta Gloves gloves, $99, Sermoneta Gloves, New York, 212.319.5946; Reebok sneakers, $65, reebok.com. She’s flanked by Charles James’s March of Dimes dress, 1949, and Edward Ruscha’s Indecision, 1982.

Swinton wears Schiaparelli dress, price upon request, Maison Schiaparelli, Paris, 011.33.1.76.21.62.59; Ben-Amun by Isaac Manevitz necklace, $670, and brooch, $395, shopbop.com; (right wrist, from top) Dominic Jones bracelet, price upon request, by special order, Barneys New York, New York, 212.826.8900, Monserat De Lucca bracelet, $120, monseratdelucca.com; (right hand, from left) Dominic Jones ring, $370, Barneys New York, New York, 212.826.8900, Dominic Jones ring, $260, Barneys New York, New York, 212.826.8900; (left wrist) Dominic Jones bracelet, price upon request, by special order, Barneys New York, New York, 212.826.8900; (left hand) Monserat De Lucca rings, $65, $55, and $58, monseratdelucca.com; Christian Louboutin pumps, $675, christianlouboutin.com.

Mark Rothko’s The Green Stripe, 1955, in the living room of the de Menil house; Ladle in the Form of an Eagle Head, from the Kwakiutl tribe, sits on the piano.

A “lips” sofa in the living room.

The bar, tucked in a corner of the living room.

Another shot of the living room.

Rolls of vintage fabrics in a closet.

Swinton, among 19th-century Oceanic works, wears Delpozo cape coat, $5,750, modaoperandi.com; Delpozo collar, price upon request, delpozo.com; Julien d’Ys for Comme des Garçons wig, juliendys.com; LaCrasia Gloves gloves, $250, lacrasiagloves.com; J.W. Anderson shoes, $1,050, theline.com.

Max Ernst’s monumental bronze Capricorn, 1964, in the garden of the de Menil house.

Swinton brings Max Ernst’s 1967 Retour de la Belle Jardinière to life, wearing a Johanna O’Hagan corset, price upon request, johannaohagan.com; Cosabella catsuit, price upon request, shop.cosabella.com; Versace boots, $1,675, select Versace stores, 888.721.7219.

Swinton wears Chanel jacket, $4,250, dress, $4,400, necklace, $4,000, brooch, $475, bracelet, $2,500, and shoes, price upon request, select Chanel stores, 800.550.0005; Perrin Paris gloves, $625, perrinparis.com. Lynn Wyatt, a Houston socialite and friend of the de Menils, wears her own Chanel jacket, shirt, skirt, hat, earrings, brooch, and pumps; a Chanel jumpsuit, $8,300, select Chanel stores, 800.550.0005 (underneath); Sermoneta Gloves, Chicago, 312.915.0694. Lady Amanda wears a Chanel jacket, $7,350, jumpsuits, $8,250 and $10,250, earrings, $1,650, ring, $950, and shoes, $895, select Chanel stores, 800.550.0005.

Swinton wears Proenza Schouler jacket, price upon request, at stores: for similar styles, Proenza Schouler, New York, 212.420.7300; Proenza Schouler top, $1,380, skirt, $1,250, and pumps, $650, Proenza Schouler, New York, 212.420.7300; Sermoneta Gloves gloves, $99, Sermoneta Gloves, Boston, 857.284.7788; hat and foot adornments by set designer Rhea Thierstein; Charles James hat from the Menil Collection (in hand).

In the Rothko Chapel, Swinton stands before a canvas by Mark Rothko, wearing a Valentino Haute Couture dress, price upon request, Valentino, New York, 212.355.5811.

Swinton wears Salvatore Ferragamo shirt, $370, Salvatore Ferragamo, 866.337.7242; Sermoneta Gloves gloves, $99, Sermoneta Gloves, Boston, 857.284.7788.

In the Menil Collection, Houston, Tilda Swinton wears Dior jacket, $3,900, and pants, $1,250, 800.929.DIOR; Christys’ Hats London hat, $335, christys-hats.com; Church’s shoes, $570, Church’s English Shoes, New York, 212.758.5200. Her surreal alter ego wears Narciso Rodriguez coat, vest, and pants, prices upon request, narcisorodriguez.com; Francesco Scognamiglio corset, francescoscognamiglio.it; Gaspar Gloves gloves, $18, gaspargloves.com; Christian Louboutin pumps, $625, christianlouboutin.com.

Art direction and concept by Jerry Stafford; hair by Julien d’Ys for Julien d’Ys; makeup and body painting by Lisa Houghton at Tim Howard Management. Produced by Jeffrey Delich. Set design by Rhea Thierstein. Photography assistants: Emma Dalzell, Keith Coleman. Fashion assistants: Clemence Lobert, Sarah Zendejas. Local Production: Angeline Dinzik, Justin Revis, Henry Emrik, Toby Bornhauser. Hair assistant: Ilker Akyoi. Special thanks to the staff of The Menil Collection and The Rothko Chapel. Printed by Graeme Bulcraig at Touch Digital.