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A History of the Catwalk
Online course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
This course is presented alongside Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show exhibition at V&A Dundee 3 April 2026 until 17 January 2027.
Fashion shows are huge, mediated spectacles, society events, and social statements. From the private fashion parades of the late nineteenth century to today’s live-streamed experiences, A History of the Catwalk presents iconic examples by fashion houses ranging from Balenciaga, Chanel, and Dior to Alexander McQueen, Martin Margiela, Prada, Vivienne Westwood and Mary Quant. Film clips and photographs, original couture creations and stage props create a vivid picture of more than one hundred years of catwalk history. From Sixties subcultures to Punk to fashion in a digital age, fashion shows emerge as complex works of art that engage with the human form, myths and ideals, realities and social change.
From the moment you enrol on a V&A on-demand course, you get 12 months' access to every stunning video lecture to rewatch as often as you like, plus plenty of additional learning materials, yours to keep.
Fashion shows are huge, mediated spectacles, society events, and social statements. From the private fashion parades of the late nineteenth century to today’s live-streamed experiences, A History of the Catwalk presents iconic examples by fashion houses ranging from Balenciaga, Chanel, and Dior to Alexander McQueen, Martin Margiela, Prada, Vivienne Westwood and Mary Quant. Film clips and photographs, original couture creations and stage props create a vivid picture of more than one hundred years of catwalk history. From Sixties subcultures to Punk to fashion in a digital age, fashion shows emerge as complex works of art that engage with the human form, myths and ideals, realities and social change.
From the moment you enrol on a V&A on-demand course, you get 12 months' access to every stunning video lecture to rewatch as often as you like, plus plenty of additional learning materials, yours to keep.
Course Leaders
Kirsty Hassard and Svetlana Panova
Kirsty Hassard and Svetlana Panova are co-curators of the exhibition Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show. Kirsty curated Tartan, V&A Dundee’s first major in‑house exhibition and has contributed to Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion and Mary Quant. As Assistant Curator, V&A Dundee, Svetlana is working on projects across fashion, architecture, and craft.
Thank you for a wonderful learning and inspirational experience! V&A Academy Learner
Course overview
Early Presentations
Fashion shows begin as invitation‑only events for elite clients. Explore early pioneers such as Paul Poiret and Jeanne Paquin, whose conventions still shape the runway.
1950s-1970s
Fashion enters the public sphere and youth culture reshapes the runway. Shows become a space for experimentation and cultural disruption.
1980s-1990s
1950s-1970s
Fashion enters the public sphere and youth culture reshapes the runway. Shows become a space for experimentation and cultural disruption.
1980s-1990s
Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen use the runway to stage subcultural narratives and performance art. Witness the rise of the supermodel and fashion television.
Fashion Journalism
Examine how media shapes public understanding of the fashion show, influencing taste reception, and the cultural status of the runway.
Fashion Photography
Behind‑the‑scenes photography and runway documentation construct the mythology of the fashion show, and reconfigure the relationship between designer, model, and audience.
2000-2015 | Fashion and Architecture
As fashion houses evolve into global brands, the runway becomes a site of architectural ambition and technological experimentation.
2015-Present
The course concludes with debates around identity, sustainability, and representation, prompting new understandings of the role of the model.
2015-Present
The course concludes with debates around identity, sustainability, and representation, prompting new understandings of the role of the model.
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Online course: A History of the Catwalk
4 March 2026 - 28 February 2027
£45.00
Call to book +44 (0)20 7942 2000
Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)
Header image: Robert Fairer