The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947–1957
Thematic Galleries (3), (4) & (5)
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
30 May 2009 - 28 September 2009
 
A Salute to Masters Programme Series

This exhibition focuses on post-war couture during a decade (1947–1957) that Christian Dior described as the "Golden Age" of fashion. Drawn mainly from the Victoria and Albert Museum's collections of French and British fashion and photography, it explores the creative, social and commercial aspects of this highly traditional and luxurious craft industry and analyses its legacy.

Starting in Paris under the German occupation and the impact of the "New Look" that emerged in 1947, the exhibition examines the world and history of couture: its designers, fashion houses, models and clients and its introduction into popular fashion. Highlighting the works of the masters and legends of fashion such as Christian Dior, Cristbal Balenciaga, Pierre Balmain and Hubert de Givenchy in Paris and their London counterparts Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies, it traces one of the most glamorous and remarkable decades in fashion history. More than 100 dresses will be on display, including daywear, cocktail and evening dresses made for the high society and royalty, alongside photographs by renowned fashion photographers Cecil Beaton and Richard Avedon and documentary film, textiles and archive material.

"The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947–1957" offers an insight into fashion at its most artful, imaginative and powerful and into a decade when designers set the highest standards of quality and innovation.


Special programmes in association with the exhibition "The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957"


Foreword

Preface

The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947–1957

Post-War and the Theatre de la Mode

The New Look

The World of Couture

Photography and Illustration

The Collections

Tailoring

Cocktail and Early Evening

Evening and Ballgowns

The Legacy


Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Supported by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau
Sponsored by Christian Dior
This is a programme of Le French May

 
For more details of the V&A, please visit: www.vam.ac.uk



Exhibit Highlights

Suit Suit
Hardy Amies
Worsted wool
1947
Given by Mrs Benita Armstrong
©V&A Images / Victoria and Albert Museum
V&A: T.38&A-1966



Evening shoes for Dior
Roger Vivier
Satin embroidered with beads and silk and metal thread
Late 1950s
Given by Roger Vivier
©V&A Images / Victoria and Albert Museum
V&A: T.38&A-1966

Evening shoes for Dior


Evening dress Evening dress
Pierre Balmain
Silk organza with ostrich feathers, sequins and rhinestones, lined with silk, silk tulle and a stiff nylon petticoat
About 1950
Worn by the Hon. Mrs Pleydell-Bouverie and given by Miss Karslake
©V&A Images / Victoria and Albert Museum
V&A: T.176-1969



'Cygne Noir' (Black Swan) evening dress
Christian Dior
Silk velvet and faille
1949
Given by Baroness Antoinette de Ginsbourg
©V&A Images / Victoria and Albert Museum
V&A: T.117&A-1974

'Cygne Noir' (Black Swan) evening dress


' Zémire ' evening dress ' Zémire ' evening dress
Christian Dior
Synthetic satin
1954
©V&A Images / Victoria and Albert Museum
V&A: T.24-2007



Miss Lachasse
Lachasse (established 1928)
London
1954
The Fashion Museum, Bath and North East Somerset Council
Given by Peter Lewis Crown
©V&A Images / Victoria and Albert Museum

Miss Lachasse


Dress and petticoat Dress and petticoat
Pierre Balmain
Dress: silk grosgrain with machine-made Swiss embroidery Petticoat: boned silk net and silk
About 1950
Given by Mrs. G. Sachet
©V&A Images / Victoria and Albert Museum
V&A: T.349&A-1975



Evening dress
Cristóbal Balenciaga
Silk taffeta
About 1955
Given by Miss Caroline Coombe
©V&A Images / Victoria and Albert Museum
V&A: T.427-1967

Evening dress


'Les Muguets' (Lily of the Valley) evening dress 'Les Muguets' (Lily of the Valley) evening dress
Hubert de Givenchy
Silk organdie embroidered with sequins
1955
Given by Viscountess de Bonchamps
©V&A Images / Victoria and Albert Museum
V&A: T.223-1974





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