Love and Romance is one of the themes that endures for the V&A; being voted one of the most romantic museum’s in the world but one also built on love, with the story of our very own Victoria and Albert. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were closely involved in the formation of the Museum at South Kensington that would eventually bear their name, and many of the early purchases made for the Museum find parallels in the works of art chosen by the Queen and Prince Albert. The V&A collections include wedding dresses, wedding accessories and jewellery, wedding suits and bespoke wedding gifts from the Renaissance period to the present day. Scenes of tender feeling, symbols of unions and allegories of love can also be found in our collection of ephemera in the Prints and Drawings Study Room and the Ceramics galleries, in the form of Staffordshire pottery figures, loving cups and wedding chargers.
The exhibition Wedding Dresses 1775-2014, which recently opened at the V&A presents the most romantic, glamorous and extravagant wedding dresses from the V&A’s superb collection. Beyond the timeless dresses a selection of accessories including orange blossom wreaths, veils, hats, shoes, corsetry and lingerie will be on display. The theme of Love and Romance is one that the V&A’s licensees have taken to develop innovative new products that are sold on the high street and in the V&A Shop.
The Exhibitionist is just that – a new premium nail varnish brand launched with new licensee Walker+Walker.
The duo are founders of the Rococo brand, celebrity nail artists and colour experts in their own right. The inaugural range of The Exhibitionist celebrates our Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 exhibition and features 8 shades inspired by the dresses throughout the centuries included in the exhibition. The colours are bespoke, matching special details seen in the wedding ensembles.
Sterling Silver Veil Topcoat
Traditionally the reserve of royal and aristocratic brides, sterling silver threads were delicately applied to silk and lace to create a shimmering, light-reflective ‘veil’. This quick drying topcoat is infused with sterling silver leaf, the first of its kind. Visit the V&A Shop
Love’s Young Dream
Love, passion and romance along with the most enchanting wedding dresses from the V&A’s collection inspired this blush pink hue. Visit the V&A Shop
Wed in Red
This soft crimson shade was inspired by the fashionable red silk gauze dress worn by bride Monica Maurice in 1938, which was a bold choice for a wedding. Visit the V&A Shop
Rose Diamond Treatment Basecoat
No bride should be without diamonds or roses. Precious rose oil and fine diamond dust are used to create this rose-tinted, luminous base to rejuvenate and strengthen the natural nail. Visit the V&A Shop
Serendipity
A stroke of luck, a pleasant surprise or an unexpected discovery – fall in love when you least expect it with this subtlest of violets. Visit the V&A Shop
Exotica
Dita Von Teese married in a dramatic and extravagant taffeta dress, designed for her by Vivienne Westwood. This exotic purple is suffused with magenta and captures her vintage style and dark velvet roses. Visit the V&A Shop
Unconventional
The unconventional accent colour of Gwen Stefani’s wedding dress and veil, and its romantic disorder inspired the glossy coral lacquer. Visit the V&A Shop
The collection is exclusive to the V&A Shop for a month.
