It's true! I really am!
If you asked me (now or when younger) "Vi, when you grow up, what do you want to be?" I would reply "A Costume Designer!!!"...I say reply, I mean shriek! It's my ultimate dream, I absolutely love dresses, skirts, blouses, knitwear - oh my heavens! KNITWEAR!!
My aunt once told me as a young girl, I made a comment at a family do, apparently I was utterly offended at the sight of her in trousers "Girls don't wear trousers Shona!" I stated quite rudely.
I have grown up a lot in the last few years since making this statement however I still only have two pairs of trousers in my massive collection of garments although I absolutely adore swing trousers! I digress.
In the last 2 months of 2013 I have attended 3 gorgeous exhibition, so I thought I would share some of my thoughts and rather sneaky photos.
6th January 2013 - V&A London : Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950
The exhibit was displayed over two floors in the V&A's fashion gallery and featured over sixty designs of gorgeous dresses since the 1950's, including Princess Diana's 'Elvis' Dress.
The dresses were displayed on simple white mannequins with some ambient lighting although I found the props used made the whole setting feel some what cheap. In the display cases were large cardboard cut outs of vintage costume jewellery and antique furniture all in a dull purple tone. The write ups seemed to be more suited to these props rather than where the designs had been featured or on who. Upstairs all the mannequins were arranged on 'a string of pearls', a wonderful idea but the delivery left it looking a little more high street window then what one might expect to find at the V&A. Saying that it luckily did not deter focus from what was being displayed - the Dresses! The selections were gorgeous, starting with some beautiful coral 1960's pieces to help you forget that it was grey and wet outside, through to Vivienne Westwood, some gorgeous bags by the ever talented Lulu Guinness and then just before you departed was Diana's 'Elvis' dress. I loved the array of variety, some numbers left you pondering the inspirations for the designs as they were so intricately bizarre and wonderful, others were perfectly delectable oozing sophistication and pure femininity. Needless to say I left on the right kind of fashion high.
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| I must admit I fell hopelessly in love with the Victor Steibel, I stood drooling over this gorgeous mint green number for at least 15 minutes, hoping my lovely friend at Oh Sew Vintage could help me make something of similar beauty. |
