David Bowie Is...the exhibition

David Bowie is many things to many people. Generations have found inspiration in his music, lyrics, personal style, persona's...And of all the press surrounding the hotly anticipated (and incredibly coveted) exhibition at the VandA, it's the stories, personal accounts and wistful memories of Bowie experiences that i've found the most fascinating...

The queue for the exhibition on members day was insane! Luckily i was standing behind  an incredibly interesting women from Montreal who had been a Bowie fan from the get go and wanted to tell me all about it! Visiting the exhibition was all part of a four day trip to London to introduce her 19 year old daughter to the genius that is David Bowie!! Starting with the exhibition (she became a member just to get to see the preview - very smart) the plan was to finish with a Bowie tour around London, visiting old haunts and famous places such as Heddon Street, the scene of 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' album cover. Very Cool!

My favourite bit of the exhibition was the penultimate room. You're engulfed with the sound and vision of Bowie, with giant screens beaming out the most gorgeous footage of his live concerts through the years. The atmosphere was intoxicating. You could see from the nostalgic looks on their faces that many of the people around me had actually been part of these crowds - they were re-living their Bowie moment! There was a guy next to me all  glassy eyed, probably dreaming of teenage years gone by, being transported back to that moment. It was gorgeous to see. 

Then once i'd finally peeled myself away from the exhibition, I met Dotty in the gift shop. With it being member day only day she couldn't see the exhibition, but she was aching to know what is was like and had made the trip to be part of the crowd. And as it turned out, to buy a bright orange shopper with the famous face of Aladdin Sane printed loud and proud on the side!  Dotty's story was my favourite...She was fascinated with Ziggy in her teenage years. She would transform her brother into Ziggy with their mothers make-up - the first time whilst he was sleeping! They grew to be huge fans together and have tickets for a few weeks time...

I found Bowie through fashion. His style grabbed my attention first, which lead me to his music. As an ongoing hobby over the last few years, i've been adding to a bulging folder on my desktop of Bowie imagery...the result of which are endless boards of his various looks and persona's. Here are a handful...What is your favourite Bowie look?

the 26 studio albums of Bowie's career...including the 2 versions of  'The Man that sold the world' - the original was too risqué for America, what with him wearing a dress and all!  (Covers 3 and 4).

Space Oddity, 1969

Hunky Dory, 1971

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 1972

gorgeous amateur photos from the Aladdin Sane Tour, 1973

the iconic costumes of Kansai Yamamoto

Station to Station , 1976 - The Thin White Duke - 

The Man who fell to Earth (film directed by  Nicolas Roeg), 1976

The Berlin Years 1976-79  - Low, Heroes, Lodger

Let's Dance 1983

How to wear a suit...

David Bowie Is...inspiring

Hollywood Costumes exhibition @ the Victoria and Albert Museum

I think this is possibly the most anticipated exhibition of the year. The press, quite rightly, have been going crazy for it since it was announced at the beginning of the year. 

The exhibition is guest curated by the Academy Award nominated costume designer, curator, author and historian, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, who along with her team, took over five years to bring together 100 of the most iconic costumes in films history. The roll call is to die for, but the exhibition also explores the integral role of the costume designer and how they bring a story to life...

''Costumes are one channel by which a character is transformed from the written page to a multi-dimensional people. The costume designer gives the clothes to the actor, the actor gives the character to the director, and the director tells the story. When a character and a film capture the public’s imagination; the costumes can ignite worldwide fashion trends and influence global culture. Cinematic icons are born when the audience falls deeply in love with the people in the story. And that’s what movies, and costume design, is all about'' - Deborah Nadoolman Landis. 

The exhibition opens this Saturday, October 20th until 27th January 2013. It's going to be very popular so make sure you book!

Test yourself, see if you can name all the costumes above. Answers at the bottom if you need a little help!

Top image from left to right...Cate Blanchett’s regalia from Elizabeth, Charlie Chaplin’s getup from The Tramp, Kate Winslet’s ship-boarding ensemble fromTitanic, Christian Bale’s Batman suit from The Dark Knight Rises, Meryl Streep’s coat from Out of Africa,Brad Pitt’s Fight Club outfit, Ginger Rogers’s dress from Lady in the Dark, Marilyn Monroe’s fur stole and sequined shift from Some Like It Hot, Judy Garland’s “Dorothy” dress from The Wizard of Oz, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Elizabethan frock from Shakespeare in Love.

Ballgowns exhibition @ the V&A

Finally got round to seeing the Ballgowns, British Glamour since 1950 exhibition at the VandA last week. As you can imagine, there was a delicious selection of gorgeous gowns, from an array of top class designers. It was great to see the newly renovated fashion galleries too, which proved to be a classy setting. If like me you are a little late in seeing the exhibition, fear not, you still have until January 6th 2013 to get up close and personal with these beautiful examples of British craftsmanship.

Ballgowns British Glamour since 1950

Whether you are loving or hating all the Jubilee and Olympic hoo-ha, there is no doubting that is has given us a cultural calender to die for. The latest must see at the Victoria and Albert Museum is Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950, charting the traditions of eveningwear from the darlings of the debutantes to red carpet celebrity style.
Staged in the museums newly refurbished fashion galleries, the exhibition showcases more than 60 examples of 'beautiful ballgowns, red carpet evening dresses and catwalk showstoppers'. The roll call promises treats from the likes of Zandra Rhodes, Jonathan Saunders and Hussein Chalayan as well as some hot off the catwalk creations from Alexander McQueen, Erdem and Giles Deacon. And as if that wasn't enough there is also a selection of Royal gowns, (cause who does a good frock better than a royal, right?), including a Norman Hartnell gown that was the Queen Mother's. A perfect way to get the Jubilee party started...

Cindy Beadman, Yuki, Ossie Clark, Roksanda Illincic

 Elizabeth Emanuel, Mary Katrantzou, Victor Edelstein, Erdem

Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950, from 19 May 2012 - 6 January 2013. 

Individual images from Vogue.com

Cecil Beaton @ the V&A

There are only 12days left to go see Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton at the VandA...Not that these images are in the exhibition, but i just love the way he put his sketchbooks and proof pages together, so i'm using them as a loose connection. Beaton could do it all. 

The exhibition is well worth seeing and will act as a great warm-up act for another fabulous VandA show in May (as well as the actual Diamond Jubilee, of course) - Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950...

What's on @ The V&A?

God Bless the VandA for helping me beat my new year blues. Every year they out do themselves, what with all the talks, seminars and extra bits and bobs they put together, and this is on top of all the awesome exhibitions. The January - March timetable is bursting with must see talks, from some super fabulous people. Hurry up and book though...these are hot!


Balenciaga: The Work of the Master
''Discover Balenciaga, one of today’s leading luxury brands. Join author Miren Arzalluz and VandA Senior Curator Lesley Miller as they present the man behind the label, Cristóbal Balenciaga and the roots of his Parisian success''. Mon 23 January 2012 19:00 @ The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre.Angela and Margherita Missoni
''Hear Angela and Margherita Missoni, Creative Director and Designer of the Italian fashion house Missoni discuss the company’s style and the future of Italian design''.Wed 25 January 2012 19:00 @ Hochhauser Auditorium, Sackler Centre.Anna Dello Russo

''Hear editor-at-large and creative consultant for Vogue Japan discuss current and future trends in global fashion. Self-confessed ‘passionate fashionista’, dello Russo has made fashion her life''. Fri 17 February 2012 19:00 @ The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre.

Mary Quant: The Best of British Design

''Join fashion legend Mary Quant in a discussion of her extraordinary life and career. The creator of the mini skirt, hot pants, sweater dresses and brightly coloured stockings, Quant was a key figure in the development of Swinging London''. Fri 16 March 2012 19:00 @ The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre.

Henry Holland

''Discover fashion designer Henry Holland's London look which is constantly inspired by the variety of cultures, attitudes and mindsets that exist in the capital. Now firmly established on the international fashion scene, he discusses his ideas and recent work''. Fri 23 March 2012 19:00 @ The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture.

Best Of British - Pt1

During the last few years there has been a really strong Best of British vibe, which I think was only intensified by the recession, helping us to appreciate all the great things on our doorstep. This post is the first of many to visually celebrate all things British, such as the good old cuppa and resurgence in afternoon tea, c(gl)amping, heritage clothing (with Christopher Bailey at the helm), age-old traditions and vintage styling. All of which are constantly updated for the 21st Century.

Expect to see a lot more love for these Great British Isles and our style in the run up to 2012. Why not start with Luella Bartley’s new book Luella's Guide to English Fashion, which is out next week? Looking further ahead to 2012 (a little scary I know), the V&A have a great exhibition planned, showcasing the best of British design from 1948 – 2012 (March - August 2012). So, what does best of British mean to you??

Trend Alert - Diaghilev, the Ballets Russes and its influence on fashion

The V&A’s major autumn exhibition, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909 - 1929, celebrates the life and work of the legendary creative director Serge Diaghilev and his revolutionary dance company, the Ballet Russes, highlighting its enduring influence to this day. The exhibition showcases over 300 items including elaborate costumes, props, film clips and art work, as well as collaborations with major artists, designers and composers, such as Picasso, Matisse and Chanel. Billed as an inspiring, sensory feast, this is a definite must see!

An example of the sumptuous costumes featured in the exhibit.

 Images via the V&A website.

The Erdem SS'11 show drew on the Ballet Russes for inspiration (Erdem Moralioglu became inspired whilst spending time with the curator of the V&A's Summer show). This was clear to see in the silhouette of his dresses, Nicholas Kirkwood's delicate shoes and the accompanying music from the ballet Petrouchka by Igor Stravinsky.

 David Koma S/S'11 at LFW, continuing the ongoing influence of ballet in fashion. Images via Style.com

Another major ballet influence soon to hit our screens will be the release of The Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman, in January 2011. It looks fantastic...can't wait!