On New Years Eve – daytime – we finally got to the Couture exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). Do make sure you check out the Chihuly glass chandelier in the foyer – magnificent! Like all nationally funded museums, pretty much, the V&A is fully accessible.
I was so disappointed to find the exhibition surprisingly busy. I assumed no one would be about – New Years Eve(?) plus it had been on for ages - but all who were seemed to be at this exhibition.
Unusually, I found the exhibition to be appallingly laid out with tiny narrow aisles – hopeless in terms of wheelchair space. Maybe they underestimated the potential popularity of Couture.
High volume of people + poor layout = need to get out quickly!
So, we whizzed around it. Some of outfits were just beautiful - the workmanship was sooo exquisite. I just couldn’t get close enough to really appreciate a lot of it though. Luckily for me, the final room was not so crowded – why not? Are these visitors oblivious to true greatness?
In this final room were four Galliano’s. I am a John Galliano groupie. The man can do no wrong in my eyes. I would truly yield up some body parts to be able to wear his designs. They were so beautiful they brought tears to my eyes. Do some things move you like that? EaZyD was looking at me like I was mad as the tears welled up. A film of his catwalk designs was running and I was transfixed. EaZyD was like, ‘nice...I suppose…’
I remember as a teenager reading a book – I cannot remember the title – about a green-eyed, red-head who became a model in the late fifties/sixties. It was all so glamorous...little cashmere cardies and New Look outfits, stockings, hats and gloves. The shoes in the book and this exhibition were stunning. They were by Roger Vivier who created the STILETTO HEEL. Fab...
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