
The golden age of couture
The overnight success of Dior's couture house, launched in 1947 post-war austerity, saw a decade of high-end fashion known as the 'golden age'
Spanning five centuries, our Fashion collection is the largest and most comprehensive collection of dress in the world. Key items in the collection include rare 17th century gowns, 18th century ‘mantua’ dresses, 1930s eveningwear, 1960s daywear and post-war couture.
Read more See lessThe overnight success of Dior's couture house, launched in 1947 post-war austerity, saw a decade of high-end fashion known as the 'golden age'
From Jeanne Lanvin's haute couture to the bold geometric jewellery of Raymond Templier, discover the Art Deco aesthetic in the fashions of the 1920s and 1930s
Discover era-defining style magazine BLITZ and their designer denim jacket project
Find out how we're shedding new light on our Fashion collections through the illuminating mode of X-ray
As the fashion industry continues to plunder the earth's resources, innovators are striving to find alternative production processes
Discover the origins of the catwalk show
Keeping the wearer warm has always been one of underwear’s roles
Created in reaction to Los Angeles’ ban on nude public swimming in 1974
From creation to catwalk - discover the design process of three leading fashion brands
Discover the hidden interior structures of iconic garments by Cristóbal Balenciaga, revealed through beautiful X-rays
Lingerie designer, Carine Gilson discusses the design process behind the 'Babydoll' slip featured in the exhibition
Gareth Pugh, Pam Hogg and Philip Treacy discuss bespoke bridal commissions
Find out why dressing for an ocean voyage was "the acid test of true chic"
Recreating the beautiful hot-pink beading and sequin work of Balenciaga's 1967 evening coat.
Animated dress patterns show how three of Balenciaga's iconic designs were constructed, revealing his mastery of pattern cutting, draping and manipulation of fabrics.
How did the ideas of the Arts and Crafts movement influence the design and manufacture of clothes, accessories and jewellery?
Discover the internal structures of a hat, stays, and a hood - three historic objects from the exhibition, Fashioned from Nature
Working with colleagues at the Natural History Museum, London, we explore some of the materials used to create fashion that are drawn from the natural world
Discover more about how nature has provided a rich source of inspiration for fashion over the centuries
The glamour of first-class travel is brought to life for the exhibition Ocean Liners: Speed and Style
Discover how knitted fabrics have created glamorous evening dresses through the 20th century and beyond
Yohji Yamamoto presented both menswear and womenswear pieces from his archive modelled by real-life London couples
Despite using the natural world as a source book, the fashion industry's processes and practices harm environments, ecosystems and human communities globally
Take a look inside the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition
Jean Dawnay's daughter, Katya Galitzine, discusses her Mother's modelling career during Dior's golden age