Platform shoes, Vivienne Westwood, autumn 1993-4. Museum no. T.225:1,2-1992
COLLECTIONS
Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories
The Victoria and Albert Museum has collected
dress since its earliest days.
The collection covers fashionable dress
from the 17th century to the present day,
with the emphasis on progressive and
influential designs from the major fashion
centres of Europe. The V&A collections
also include accessories such as jewellery,
gloves and handbags.
Grace Kelly: Style Icon
This exhibition shows the spectacular wardrobe of Grace Kelly, one of the most popular actresses of the 1950s. Featuring dresses from many of her films as well as the gown she wore to accept her Oscar in 1955. The display will examine Grace Kelly's glamorous Hollywood image, the evolution of her style as Princess Grace of Monaco, and her enduring appeal as a fashion icon.
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Wedding Fashion
In advance of an exhibition of Wedding Dresses in 2011 we are creating a database of photographs of clothes worn for weddings from all cultures between 1840 and the present. We include civil partnerships. This database will provide a rich record and help people date their own photographs.
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Jewellery
The William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery displays 3,500 jewels from the V&A's jewellery collection, one of the finest and most comprehensive in the world. On display are some of the finest designs from the great jewellery houses of the 20th century and jewels designed by important contemporary makers.
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Ethical Fashion/Conscious Style
Ethical Fashion is an umbrella term to describe ethical fashion design, production, retail, and purchasing. It covers a range of issues such as working conditions, exploitation, fair trade, sustainable production, the environment, and animal welfare.