DESIGNER OF DREAMS WORTH A GRAND DAY OUT
Hannah and I were both of the opinion that no fashion exhibition would ever top the Alexander McQueen posthumous exhibit at the V&A, so we approached the Dior: Designer of Dreams opening week with caution and little excitement.
In London for Pure fashion trade show (and by accident just by the Baftas), we pitched up for the Dior exhibition to see the fresh new glass café facade now situated outside the stunning Victoria & Albert Museum building.
After a short queue our time slot was ready and we headed down the sweeping staircase where Dior’s original pencil sketches loomed tall above our heads.
The opening room centre piece is Dior’s signature design, the bar suit, in all its sculptural glory, alongside sketches and historical scene-setters – however my eye was drawn to Maria Grazia Chiuri’s deconstructed bar suit and Dr Martens style boots – as I would find as I ventured on a journey through the age of new creative directors at the Dior house helm, her vision for a modern woman stood out.
Dior: Designer of Dreams is a wonderful look at how a founder’s vision and ethos can be interpreted and reimagined across the decades and eras from 1947 to now.
From his young protégé Yves Saint Laurent’s short term at the helm to the 1980’s big shoulders and attitude of Raf Simons, and the genius languid beauty that is Galliano’s bias cut and adornment each new designer had a new thing to say.
Current head of Dior’s couture house is the Italian powerhouse first female creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri – all heavy kohl eyes , torn jeans, knuckles full of rings and rock ‘n roll attitude. Not everyone is a fan but I myself love her take on the classic archives.
For a house that is known for having created femininity with its “New Look’ her vision of being feminine on the modern day is fresh, politically and socially current, respectful to the archives it represents and so gorgeous I wish I could afford it!
One of the rooms that took our breath away was both the curving corridor of miniature couture dresses, small enough for a Barbie doll but as detailed as the couture originals – which leads into a room of sparking dreams.
Not one to spoil a surprise all we will say is you will gasp, you may cry and you’ll certainly want an occasion to wear the gowns on display.
Dior at the V&A runs until July 2019 but is sadly all sold out – however extra tickets will be released monthly around the 15th so it’s worth checking the website. Very limited tickets are available to purchase daily at 10am from the Grand Entrance on a first-come, first-served basis; these tickets are for times throughout the day on that day only., so if you’re in London and have a spare hour or so – make it a priority.
Kari x