Admissions

Modern Monclaire admits entries to The Index — the living record of women’s culture. Admission only stands when Form, Substance, and Provenance align clearly and fully. Strength in one never excuses weakness in another. What we admit is built to last — not just through seasons, but through real use, cultural meaning, and time.

The Index is published on a twice-yearly cycle. What’s final enters the permanent record. What’s emerging is observed in the Rising Index, where it is tracked and reviewed until it earns a place — or fades.

What We Admit

Objects
What women keep in active use and care. Form that holds. Materials and making that prove themselves in daily life and lasting rooms.

People
Makers and authors whose work sets or sharpens a standard — work that remains legible in women’s lives and shapes practice over time.

Codes
Repeatable patterns of dress, conduct, care, or making that circulate across daily and ceremonial space with observable continuity.

The Test: Form · Substance · Provenance

Form
Proportion, construction, material integrity, maintenance, and function. Variants and line extensions are tracked; exemplars are named.

Substance
Cultural weight in women’s lives. Observable use across settings. Persistence and re-readability. Plain language that travels.

Provenance
Origin facts, dates, makers, prior custody, and documentation. Assertions require sources. Conflicts are stated and resolved. Hearsay is declined.

The Rising Index

Not all significance appears fully formed. The Rising Index holds early notes on promising candidates — entries that may later join The Index.

We log:

  • What was observed
  • When and where it was seen
  • Why it matters (so far)

Each note is revisited on a regular rhythm. If it holds and deepens, it moves forward. If it fades, we update the record and retire the note. Nothing is admitted lightly.

Minimum Evidence by Category

Objects

  • Maker documentation (catalog, line sheet, or accession record)
  • Independent press or scholarly citation of origin and line
  • Proof image set we produce or verify

People

  • Dated work, patent, exhibition, or publication
  • Critical reception over time (not just viral attention)
  • Identifiers (e.g., VIAF, ISNI, LCCN) when applicable

Codes

  • Dated appearances across sources and settings
  • Enduring, named use in plain terms
  • Proof of cultural utility beyond momentary trend

Method & Governance

Observation
Fieldwork, archive study, and independent research. Sources include trade, institutional, and community records.

Verification
Documents are checked. Dates and authorship reconciled. Conflicts are logged and resolved.

Deliberation
Internal review against all criteria. Dissent is recorded and retained with reasoning.

Decision
Entries are either Admitted, Deferred (for further observation), or Declined. All decisions and changes are logged in the House Ledger.

Independence
No paid placement. No influence from partners or underwriters. All conflicts are declared and recusals recorded.

Ledger & Tracking

Each entry receives a House-issued Ledger ID and public status. Re-attributions, transfers, and corrections are logged with dates and reasons.

ID Format
MM-INDEX-YYYY-[OBJ|PER|CODE]-###
Example: MM-INDEX-2025-PER-003 (People, 2025, entry 003)

Versioning
Every page carries a version stamp:
Version 1.0 (Publish Date)
Updates increment the minor version and state the change reason.

Admission Timing

Winter Cycle

  • Observation: November–December
  • Decisions posted: January 31
  • Publication: February 15

Summer Cycle

  • Observation: May–June
  • Decisions posted: July 31
  • Publication: August 15

Evidence Addenda

If you hold primary sources that clarify or correct an entry, email:
evidence@modernmonclaire.com
Subject line: Addendum — [Entry Name] — [Year]
Include scans, citations, or documentation. Credited contributions are logged in the public change log.

🕊 Reconsideration

We only reconsider entries if new primary evidence emerges or an error in Form, Substance, or Provenance is documented.

Editorial disagreement is not grounds for revision.

If reconsideration changes the classification, the Ledger ID remains — only the version and status update. Reasoning is recorded.

Images & Rights

Images may be requested during verification. Requirements:

  • Neutral light
  • No styling or edits
  • Proof-grade resolution
  • True color
  • No generative AI

By sending, you grant a non-exclusive, editorial-only license for Modern Monclaire’s use. We will honor your preferred credit line. Rights queries are honored promptly.

Preferred specs

  • Full-resolution JPEG or TIFF
  • 300 ppi or higher
  • ICC profile embedded
  • Caption: maker, name/model, material, year, source, credit

Accessibility & Language

We provide:

  • Plain-language summaries
  • Alt text for images
  • Source notes
  • Archived links when sources go offline

English governs when translations vary. Our aim is clarity, legibility, and trust.

Scope & Limits

We do not accept:

  • Unverifiable submissions or pitches
  • Composite or styled imagery labeled as documentary
  • Advertising language
  • Speculative dates or hearsay
  • Works whose only value is novelty

Our lens is global. The focus is women’s culture.

Ethics & Sensitivity

Living subjects are verified across multiple sources.
Minors and private individuals are referenced with care.
Sacred or culturally restricted practices are treated with consultation.
Where needed, publication is limited to description — no imagery.

How to Cite Modern Monclaire

Modern Monclaire, The Index. “[Entry Title].” Version and date. Ledger ID. URL.
Example: Modern Monclaire, The Index. “Diane von Fürstenberg.” Version 1.1, 15 Feb 2025. MM-INDEX-2025-PER-003.

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