News from The Victoria & Albert Museum, London

1) The V&A launches a Collection of Fashion Autobiographies

The V&A is proud to present autobiographies by four of the twentieth century’s most inspirational fashion designers: Elsa Schiaparelli, Barbara Hulanicki, Christian Dior and Mary Quant, each of whom have made a unique input into the world of hats and millinery. The new cover artwork is by Beatriz Lostalé, V&A Student Illustrator of the Year, 2017 and depicts ensembles from the V&A’s own fashion archive. Entertaining in their own right, the books also serve as an important fashion history – invaluable for students, researchers and all lovers of fashion.

The autobiographies are sold separately at £9.99 each, and available from the V&A website:

https://www.vam.ac.uk/shop/books/fashion-jewellery-and-textiles.html

 

2) Notable Fashion Exhibitions for 2018/19

Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up

runs until 4th November 2018

This exhibition presents an extraordinary collection of personal artefacts and clothing belonging to the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Locked away for 50 years after her death, this collection has never before been exhibited outside Mexico.

Frida Kahlo has inspired a generation of designers with her unique graphics, her exciting mix of textures, her rich palette of colours and her distinctive headwear, all nurtured from a fusion of Mexican heritage with her own distinctive style.

 

3) The exhibition ‘Mary Quant’ runs from 6 April 2019 – 8 March 2020

Tickets will go on sale in Autumn 2018

The V&A announces that it has been given unprecedented access to Dame Mary Quant’s Archive to curate the first international retrospective on the revolutionary fashion designer in nearly 50 years. Opening in April 2019, the exhibition will focus on the years between 1955 and 1975, when Quant revolutionised the high street with her subversive and playful designs for a younger generation, from hot pants, miniskirts and trousers for women to accessories, tights and make-up.