Ballgowns Exhibition at V&A
When
19 May 2012 -
06 January 2013
10am - 5.45pm
Where
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cost
£10.00
Age Restrictions
n/a
A stunning ballgowns exhibition at V&A Museum takes place in the newly restored Fashion Galleries for 2012, bringing the glamour of British ballgowns from the 1950s to present day to museum visitors. Featuring catwalk couture and red carpet attention grabbers, this is your chance to revel in the old school glamour of both traditional and contemporary ballgowns.
Ballgowns exhibition
London fashionistas rarely shy away from any kind of extravagant outfit, meaning that the Ballgowns exhibition at V&A is certain to be hugely popular with all kinds of fashion fans from those that regularly wear such outfits to those that dream of owning their own Vivienne Westwood dress. Featuring a whole host of extravagant designs from some of the best in the business, this is one couture exhibition that should not be missed.
Designer couture and celebrity culture
Norman Hartnell, Victor Stiebel, Zandra Rhodes, Catherine Walker, Alexander McQueen, Erdem and Jenny Packham all have ballgowns on show at the V&A, and Gareth Pugh has even created a metallic leather dress specially for the Ballgowns exhibition. London has its fair share of opening nights, galas and balls, and a sizeable amount of celebrities wanting to wear something stunning to appear in. The rise in celebrity culture and the public nature of premieres and red carpet events has meant designers and celebrities often come together to ensure maximum media coverage for them both, so you can see dresses worn by Sandra Bullock, Daphne Guinness, Elizabeth Hurley and Bianca Jagger in the Ballgowns exhibition at V&A.
You shall go to the ball
In days gone past, balls and fancy evening dos were regular parts of the social calendar for the middle and upper classes, whereas nowadays people are more likely to only attend one or two of these kinds of events per year, and only for very special occassions. Whether young ladies were being presented to the Queen as debutantes or it was a Royal state occassion, dressing up in your best was a social necessity. Featuring 30 different ballgowns from the Museum's permanent collection, the lower floor of the Ballgowns exhibition space at V&A is decked out in the style of a country house getting ready for a grand ball, with films, images and other glamorous accessories such as evening bags, gloves and shoes also on show.
Exhibition highlights
With more than 60 different glamorous ballgowns on show in the Ballgowns: British Glamour exhibition, there are sure to be several hot favourites amongst visitors to the V&A Museum. From gowns worn by the Queen Mother to Princess Diana and today's young royals, to a latex ballgown designed by Atsuko Kudo, the ballgowns exhibition will have London fashion fans gasping with delight at the luxury fabrics, the painstaking embellishments, and the glamorous designs. Visitors are also able to enjoy the newly refurbished Octagon Court, which features 30 or so contemporary designs in an open display, that evokes the feeling of a red carpet occassion.
The Ballgowns exhibition at V&A Museum takes place from Saturday 19th May 2012 - Sunday 6th January 2013. Tickets cost £10.00.
Image: Ballgown by Erdem. Image courtesy of David Hughes.
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25 January 2012 - 05 June 2012
Mon-Thu, Sat & Sun 10am-5.45pm, Fri 10am-10pm, ends Jun 5
31 March 2012 - 12 August 2012
From Mar 31, Mon-Thu, Sat & Sun 10am-5.30pm, last adm 5pm, Fri 10am-9.30pm, last adm 9pm, ends Aug 12
From May 19, Mon-Thu, Sat & Sun 10am-5.45pm, Fri 10am-10pm, ends Jan 6
Mon-Thu, Sat & Sun 10am-5.45pm, Fri 10am-10pm, closed Dec 24-26, ends Jun 30
Jan-Dec, Mon-Thu, Sat & Sun 10am-5.45pm, Fri 10am-10pm, selected galleries open after 6pm, closed Dec 24-26
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