A woman on a catwalk

display

The Fashion Show: Everything But The Clothes

Until Sunday 10 March 2024

An access-all-areas insight into the world of the fashion show in the pre-digital age.

Beyond the clothes being modelled, every element of a fashion show is the result of a conscious design choice. This exhibition peels back the glamourous façade of the fashion show and takes visitors beyond the catwalk into a world of total design constructed by a broader creative community, including illustrators, graphic designers, set designers, photographers, hairstylists, and shoemakers, to name a few.

Drawing mainly on the personal archive of respected fashion writer and editor, Iain R Webb, the exhibition invites visitors to explore a wide collection of ephemera, invitations, and memorabilia from fashion shows including Helmut Lang, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Jean Paul Gaultier, Stella McCartney, Versace, and Louis Vuitton, as well as Webb's sketches documenting collections from the front row.

Amassed during his career spanning four decades in the fashion industry, these objects demonstrate how the individual can be a collector, interpreter and anthropologist of a particular moment in time. Take a sneak peek behind-the-scenes with never-before-seen photographs from backstage and Fashion Week parties, featuring the likes of Björk, Linda Evangelista, Boy George, Grace Jones, Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and many more.

Curated by Iain R Webb, Professor of Fashion & Design at Kingston School of Art, in collaboration with V&A Dundee.

This free display is in the Michelin Design Gallery in the upper foyer of the museum.

Until Sunday 10 March 2024

Free

Michelin Design Gallery

Supported by:

PPL
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Key Objects

Jodie Harsh, Pearl Lowe, Pam Hogg and Jamie Winston backstage photo courtesy of Iain R Webb
Jodie Harsh, Pearl Lowe, Pam Hogg and Jamie Winston backstage photo courtesy of Iain R Webb
Model Helena Christensen and Designer Vivienne Westwood backstage photo courtesy of Iain R Webb
Model Helena Christensen and Designer Vivienne Westwood backstage photo courtesy of Iain R Webb
Christian Lacroix sketch invitations courtesy of Iain R Webb
Christian Lacroix sketch invitations courtesy of Iain R Webb
Emporio Armani CD The Paris Show New York remix_courtesy of Iain R Webb
Emporio Armani CD The Paris Show New York remix courtesy of Iain R Webb
Iain R Webb Sketchbook
Iain R Webb sketchbook
John Galliano invitation courtesy of Iain R Webb
John Galliano invitation courtesy of Iain R Webb
Generic background for Membership promo module

Membership

V&A Dundee Membership enables you to visit our changing exhibitions time and time again

Be the first to get the latest news from V&A Dundee.

Join our newsletter and be the first to know about the latest exhibitions, events and activities.

Get the latest news from V&A Dundee

Sign up to hear first about exhibitions, events and new things to do.

newletter_kimono_3