First, even though London Fashion Week is long over, some of these exhibits are still very much on. This weekend doesn’t promise to be particularly sunny so paying a visit to one of the fashion exhibits listed in this post would be recommended. (However, please read my non-so-complementary comments on the Vogue 100 fashion exhibit at the end of this post before you go.)
Second, there are a few more exhibits that have cropped up since the last post so I thought I would give you the details.
- Undressed at the Victoria & Albert Museum: I have absolutely no doubts this will be amazing. I have gone for many exhibits at the V&A (including Savage Beauty, Shoes, Bejewelled Treasures, Fabric of India, etc) and expect this one to be just as good. Take it from me – if its an exhibit at the V&A, its a safe bet.
- Sothby: No, I am not suggesting you spring £10,000 for a photograph but the amazing thing is you can actually go and have a look (for free!) at some of the auctioned and to be auctioned items. I am going to see some of fashion photographs that are coming up for auction including some photographs by Guy Bordein. If this doesn’t interest you, there are exhibits featuring a lot of art and sculptures and I would recommend taking a look at the list. An issue with the Sothby exhibits is that they are usually on for less than a week or so – you will need to hurry if you like something.
- Missoni at the Fashion and Textile Museum: I expect this will be very similiar in style to the Louis Vuitton exhibit. I still haven’t managed to make it to the Fashion and Textile Museum but this seems like a good enough reason to go. (I have actually eaten at the museum cafe and never actually gone inside. I can recommend the soups!)
So now about Vogue 100. Everyone has been raving and ranting about it and I went and took a look. I admit I am not very objective – I love the V&A and while walking through the exhibit kept comparing it to how it would have been curated had it been at the V&A (this one is at the National Portrait Gallery). To be blunt, I don’t think it was well curated and particularly informative.
The information provided was not at all in proportion to the amazing wealth of resources at hand. As a photography exhibit, I expected to learn more about the different photographers Vogue had, how they styles were different and what their contribution was to Vogue and the their art of photography. I learnt nothing about any of this. Although the exhibit was in chronological order – every decade in the life of Vogue had a room for it – I didn’t really think there was a natural flow to it. But I loved the showcased Vogue – starting from the first one in 1916.
The last thing that annoyed me was that the details of every picture was provided near the door of the room – and not below or above the relevant picture. This drove me completely nuts! Going back and forth from one corner to another to see what its about does not make a great exhibit going experience.
And the absolutely last gripe (I promise this is the last one!) – the late additions to the exhibit. Some pictures of Kate Middleton were added to the exhibit about a week or so ago. This was not a part of the original exhibit which most people paid and got to see. This was added less than a month before the exhibit closes. I am unsure what the strategy behind this was – help continue the hype of the exhibit? Make more money hoping people will go a second time just to see these photographs? Whatever it was it just seems cheap and sneaky.
Anyway. Let me know if you made it to this one or any of the others and your thoughts. Also, have you found us on Instagram yet? If you scroll way down on this page you will find a direct link to all our social media pages. Give us a follow and drop us a hi!
– Anisha
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