Dior exhibition London: a major retrospective is coming to the V&A in February

It will be the largest and most comprehensive Dior exhibition ever staged in the UK 
1/15
Chloe Street1 February 2019

Next spring the Victoria & Albert museum is set to open the doors on the largest and most comprehensive exhibition ever staged in the UK on the House of Dior.

Opening on February 2, 2019, Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams will be the V&A’s second largest fashion exhibition after 2015’s monumental Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, and the first to be hosted in the museum’s Sainsbury Gallery.

Based on the hugely popular Christian Dior: Couturier du Rêve exhibition which ran at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris from July 2017 to January 2018, the show has been reimagined for the V&A.

Across 11 theatrical sections, the exhibition traces the history and impact of one of the 20th century’s most influential couturiers, and the six artistic directors who have succeeded him, to explore the enduring influence of the fashion house.

“In 1947, Christian Dior changed the face of fashion with his New Look, which redefined the female silhouette and reinvigorated the post-War Parisian fashion industry. The influence of Christian Dior’s design was all-pervasive and helped to define an era,” says Oriole Cullen, who curated the exhibition for the V&A.

A major highlight of the display will be the famed Bar Suit from Dior’s ground-breaking first collection in 1947, which was a pivotal moment in post-War fashion.

Christian Dior Bar Suit, Haute Couture spring/ summer 1947
Laziz Hamani. Victoria and Albert Museum, London

In bringing the show to London, the curators decided to add a brand new section, exploring the designer’s fascination with British culture; from the grandeur of Britain’s great country houses where Dior staged several spectacular fashion shows (including Blenheim Palace in 1954), to the impeccable tailoring of Savile Row and Dior’s obsession with British Royalty and the aristocracy.

The fairy tale Dior dress Princess Margaret wore for her 21st birthday celebrations will be on display (a particular highlight for anyone who’s watched the scene in The Crown when Cecil Beaton takes her picture wearing it) alongside an exploration of the private shows Dior arranged for the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

“More than 70 years after its founding, the V&A’s exhibition celebrates the enduring influence of the House of Dior and reveals Dior’s relationship with Britain,” says Cullen.

There'll also be the dress Charlize Theron wore for the J'adore perfume adverts in 2008 and the staggeringly beautiful petal-like Junon ballgown Dior created in 1949.

Christian Dior by John Galliano, J'adore dress, 2008
Laziz Hamani. Christian Dior Parfums collection, Paris

Drawn from the extensive Dior Archives, the exhibition presents over 500 objects, with over 200 rare Haute Couture garments shown alongside accessories, fashion photography, film, vintage perfume, original make-up, illustrations, magazines and Christian Dior’s personal possessions. It also showcases highlights from the V&A’s world-class Couture collections, including the iconic Bar Suit, gifted to the museum by the House of Dior in 1960 with the help of Cecil Beaton.

“Christian Dior’s masterful artistry and craftsmanship created a high fashion legacy that has endured now for over seven decades,” said V&A Director Tristram Hunt at a press briefing on Tuesday. “This exhibition will be a defining moment for fashion at the Victoria and Albert museum.”

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams will run from February 2 to July 14, 2019 at the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Sainsbury Gallery. Tickets from £20. All concessions: £15. For more information see: vam.ac.uk

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in