Dior steps back into the Golden Age of Couture

The press reception hosted by Dior at The V&A was an unpretentious but elegant affair. As we sashayed through the revolving doors we were offered Moet in cut glass flutes and tiny morsels of delicious canapes. I always think that the V&A is at its most spectacular at night as its sheer magnificence is lit up. As the big fashion gala had opened two days before the crowd was composed of Dior PRs (wearing the most enviably chic dresses), journalists who had not managed to get tickets for Tuesday's event and a group of impeccably dressed French women.


As we entered the exhibiton, the dim lighting added a sense of mystery and theatre to the collection. Although there was a vast array of stunning pieces to examine, it was well organised and simple in terms of its layout (although everyone of my party felt in need of a return visit- probably because the champagne had addled our concentration to varying extents).


The Dior garments spanning from New Look to Galliano's couture collection were in amazing condition. What was instructive was the manner in which British couture pieces were lined up next to their Parisian couterparts as a story of two inter-woven cities was revealed. The exchange between Paris and London is a relationship which has been often overlooked and one which this collection does well to tease apart. (See article 'The forgotten founders of British fashion' in blog archive).

The collection is truly elegaic and sends shivers down the spine as the sheer beauty of the construction and attention to detail is made apparent. In visual terms the films of women dressing, distorting the proportions of their bodies with corsets and hip volumisers and snippets of early fashion shows left a lasting impact.

This is an exhibition that will stay with me until I start to lose my marbles. It was not only seductive, but informative, striking the perfect note between providing substance without information overload. It has a real emotive quality which is difficult to articulate, so I do urge anyone who has the moment to step back into the era of true glamour and style which is now lamentably found only in the halls of museums.