DIOR...Designer of Dreams

Having visited The Victoria and Albert Museum on many occasions, I am always looking out for news of their latest exhibitions so as soon as I saw The Dior Designer of Dreams was coming soon, I knew I HAD to go!

Unfortunately, even with the exhibition being extended due to it's incredible popularity, tickets seemed to sell out as quickly as they were released! So imagine my excitement when I finally got my hands on tickets for the final month of the exhibition...!!!

Featuring 500 items, including over 200 Haute Couture garments which range from 1947 to the present day, I knew this was going to be amazing and was counting the days until I boarded the train to London!

As our tickets were for early morning and outside of the normal museum opening hours we had to enter via the Blavatnik Hall, accessible through the Sackler Courtyard...once inside we walked down a staircase, surrounded by huge images of Dior's original sketches, the perfect way to begin our journey into the history of Dior.

The Sackler Courtyard Entrance

The New Look Collection

The exhibition is broken up into several areas, each representing the different eras of Dior with the first being the New Look Collection, featuring the iconic Bar Suit and beautiful sketches.

The Iconic "Bar Suit" and original Dior sketches

The Dior Line

Featuring the designers 10 defining looks from 1947-1957 which included the silk Aladin dress and the silk Blandine dress pictured below.

The Aladin Dress (1953) and the Blandine Dress (1957)

Dior in Britain

After his first visit in 1926 Christian Dior fell in love with Britain and one of the highlights from this area of the exhibition has to be the stunning off the shoulder embroidered gown designed for and worn by Princess Margaret at her 21st Birthday in 1951. Unfortunately I didn't take a close up but it featured star sequins, which if you know how obsessed with stars I am, I'm sure you can imagine this pleased me greatly! 

 

Princess Margaret's 21st Birthday Dress (1951) and Jane Stoddart's Wedding Dress (1953)

Dior in Britain

Blenheim Palace Room
With its moulded walls and tall columns to create an elegant feel, this room was full of beautifully embroidered gowns, all of which were a work of art!

Travels

Christian Dior was a keen traveller, taking inspiration from the many places he visited and often naming his dresses after these places, such as the "Mexico" dress pictured below alongside Marie Grazia Chiuri's dress designed for the Cruise Collection.

Left - Mexico Dress (1953) Right - Cruise Collection Dress (2019)

The Garden Room
Thousands of handmade paper flowers are suspended from the ceiling when entering the Garden Room, highlighting the importance of flowers and gardens as a source of inspiration for Dior and they certainly provide a wow factor (although I spent the entire way round the exhibition saying "wow"!)

Alongside a range of Dior perfumes stood this miniature couture gown, exquisitely made using handmade silk flowers. To see the dress being made take a look at the Le Petit Théâtre Dior Film below (and if you're anything like me you'll probably want to watch it more than once...it's breathtaking!)

Designers for Dior

All designers that join Dior are carefully selected to ensure that while they bring their own ideas, the legacy of Dior continues. Over the years Creative Directors have included, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri.

 Raf Simons (2012 - 2015)

Maria Grazia Chiuri (2016- present)

The Toile Room

Toiles are a practice creation of a garment using a cheaper fabric, often white cotton - this means that alterations and changes can be made to ensure the perfect fit and shape before the final piece is made.

Floor to ceiling toiles

The Ballroom

A large circular room with dramatic music and special effect light projections ranging from bright golden glitter through to a dark starry night effect, this was the perfect finale room. 

The Ballroom

On leaving the ballroom you are met with the final exhibit - the truly stunning "Éventail de vos Hasards" dress by Maria Grazia Chiuri.

Created for the Shanghai presentation of her Haute Couture Spring Summer 2018 Collection using inspiration from an original 1950's fan - the pleats in the tuille gown represent those in the paper fan and is finished with an embroidery of Christian Dior's signature.

Éventail de vos Hasards Dress (2018) and Paper Fan (1950's) 

If you read my previous blog post you will know that I have got a bit of a thing about books, in particular those relating to exhibitions that I have seen at the V&A. You can read more about my book collection here or you may like to have a browse of the V&A's online book shop here

Some favourite books from my V&A Collection

Whilst this fabulous exhibition has now ended, I would highly recommend that you keep a look out on the Victoria and Albert Museum website for any future exhibitions - I have visited several over the years and they are always beautifully curated.

Souvenirs - which of course had to include some stationery!

I hope you have enjoyed my little insight into this fabulous exhibition, please comment below if you've got a favourite dress from those shown or if you've visited this exhibition or any others in the past, I'd love you to share below!

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