As you are certain to know by now, I'm a fan of museums and especially fashion exhibits. There is something special about taking a step back into time via fashion. It tells us so much about the culture of the time, from the multi-layered ensembles women used to wear to the first bikini that came onto the scene to the androgynous style we see now.
In February, London's Victoria & Albert Museum debuted it's Dior exhibit, "Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams". As luck would have it, I happened to be in London in February. So, you guessed it; I booked tickets to the exhibit as soon as I had my flight booked.
Dior by John Galliano (b.1960), Haute Couture, Autumn/Winter 2004. Photo © Laziz Hamani. Dior Héritage collection, Paris.
Honestly, I wasn't quite certain what to expect, as I had been to the Musée Christian Dior, which was Dior's childhood home in France. It was amazing. From the gardens to the view to the history held within the house, it was a special experience. In turn, I wondered how this exhibit in London could top that?
Well, the real beauty of V&A's exhibit was how they wove the stories of each of the House of Dior's designers into the exhibit. Without reading the description, I would catch myself eyeing specific designs. More often than not, they were those of John Galliano. Or, they were designs from Gianfranco Ferré or Marc Bohan. Of course there were nods to Yves Saint Laurent too. In addition, there were ties to London, including to Princess Margaret and the dress she wore for her 21st birthday, which was designed by Dior.
Christian Dior by John Galliano, J’adore, Dress, Haute Couture, 2008(custom-made). Photo © Laziz Hamani. Christian Dior Parfums collection, Paris.
With all of this said, I should note that due to how well-received this exhibit has been already, the V&A has extended it until September. As of this writing, it does appear sold out with some tickets available at the door. Even with this said, if you are in London, it's worth a try to see it. If anything, you can explore the V&A, which is a must-visit on its own.
- Aimee
P.S. All images were courtesy of V&A, Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams is at the V&A from 2 February – 14 July 2019 (now 1 September 2019) vam.ac.uk.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
I just read an article that sounded – to me at least – like “a canary in a coal mine” or an early warning of danger. This piece, written by Joe Pompeo, appeared in the May 2020 issue of Vanity Fair magazine with the title “The British Tabloid Invasion” and a subtitle that read, “How the Daily Mail is conquering American gossip.”
The paparazzi horde, La Dolce Vita, 1960 – photo courtesy of Vanity Fair
Apparently the good old U.S. is a nation of “not great” sleepers. Really? And I thought I was the only one! According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it was revealed that one out of three Americans are chronically sleep-deprived. Yikes!
I think we’re all taken by the incredible mystique of the famous French fashion house, Hermès that has been with us for two centuries and is still owned and operated by the same family. From its beginnings in fine equestrian leather goods, they are – in the tumultuous year 2020 – best known for their handbags and many other items.
My image of Hermès has always been rarified products at equally rarified prices so imagine my surprise when I recently received a very stylish publication of theirs in the mail.
