Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion at the V&A

Christian Dior once said, “Haute couture is like an orchestra whose conductor is Balenciaga. We other couturiers are the musicians and we follow the direction he gives.” (The V&A Museum)

Until February 18th 2018, Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion, will be at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and it’s an exhibition that you won’t want to miss. Balenciaga is known for revolutionizing fashion. The designer reformed fashion from being designed around the form of the body to being constructed and distorted on the body in the most groundbreaking way that the 20th century had ever seen. The first floor of the exhibition is a selection of Cristobal Balenciaga’s garments which show the monumental transformation in fashion which he made in the most interesting way. Working with the V&A, Nick Veasey built x-ray creations of the garments to demonstrate how they were made, whilst in collaboration with London College of Fashion students videos are on a loop to show how the garments were pattern cut. The exhibition is interactive too, as there are mock ups of a Balenciaga cloak to try  on and an interaction area where you can make up your very own Balenciaga one seam coat on a miniature scale in paper.

Upstairs, the lighting is brighter and inspirational quotes adorn the walls. Noteable words from Hubert de Givenchy, in a bold print, speak volumes: “not even the Bible has taught me as much as Balenciaga”. Demonstrating the strong undeniable influence that Balenciaga has had on the fashion industry, designs from Christian Dior, Molly Goddard, Simone Rocha and Coco Chanel are exhibited on the upper floor.

 

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