Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 & Horst: Photographer of Style: V&A Exhibitions

So I was recently made redundant *sympathy please* and in between hunting high and low for a job, I've also had some time to myself. Where I had been so busy working I had rather neglected one of my most favourite past times: visiting my favourite museums. So, whilst searching for a job I have also been dashing off to the V&A and the Tate to get back into being creative. Up first is my post on the Victoria and Albert Museum:

Wedding Dresses 1775-2014

 

Another Friday night spent at the Victoria and Albert Museum gushing over magical wedding dresses at the Wedding Dress Exhibition, and perusing vintage Vogue covers at the Horst Photography Exhibition. 

Honestly it's so nice to spend an evening at the museum. Before I met with my Aunty for the two exhibitions I had time to wonder round the museum, happily snapping away at marble Statues, mosaic tiles and historic furniture.

The wedding dress exhibition blew me away! Such stunning dresses including KATE MOSS' which I have to say was my favourite of the collection - the sequin embroidery of peacock feathers in the feathery trail was just exquisite and honestly I would go again to this exhibition just to see THAT dress again. It is so interesting how the wedding dress has evolved over time, and I have to admit there were a few that had me questioning the brides taste slightly, but there were those that stunned.

 

It's such a shame that the exhibitions do not allow you to take photos of your favourite dresses, and the shop was surprisingly lacking in the wedding dress postcards (and those that were there were my least favourite *boohoo*) but I did find pictures of quite a few of the wedding dresses pinned to the Victoria and Albert Pinterest. So here are just a few of my favourites:

 

Horst: Photographer of Style: V&A Exhibitions

 

After perusing the wedding dresses and rating them out of ten, my Aunt and I then went to the Horst exhibition. I've got to admit, I had never heard of the name Horst before, but as soon as I stepped into the exhibit room, I found I was familiar with quite a lot of his work. From celebrity portraits (of the likes of Coco Chanel, Marlene Dietrich, and Jacqueline Kennedy) to vintage Vogue covers and abstract art, Horst has literally snapped his way through some of my favourite decades. I spent the whole exhibition ashamed that I hadn't realised who he was, and can now class him as one of my favourite photographers (alongside John French, Annie Leibovitz and Tim Walker - I feel post coming along?). I absolutely love the colours he uses in his fashion photography and I'm considering getting a few framed for my bedroom! Just look at some of his work - images from the V&A Pinterest Page:

 

 

..and look how beautiful the V&A courtyard is!...

 

 

 xxx Lucy xxx

The Glamour of Italian Fashion: V&A Exhibition

Last Friday Night I hopped on a train and took a trip to the Victoria & Albert Museum. Anyone who knows me, knows that this is my fave museum in London. It's here really that I became interested in Vintage Fashion. In fact, living such a short distance away you'd think I'd be there more often (I've definitely just promised myself I'll go more). Friday nights are a great time to go - no queues, no crowds and no faff whatsoever.

This was definitely one exhibition that had me oooohing and aaaaahing as soon as I stepped past the ticket line. I have a bit of an obsession with anything Italian anyway - actually, just hours before my gander into Kensington I had been treated to a lovely Italian lunch at a place called La Dolce Vita in Teddington by my Pa. I've only ever actually been to Rome, but I can envisage myself living in a lovely villa in the South of Italy surrounded by Vineyard and sea. Maybe throw in a classic vintage car and well I don't know, an outfit from Dolce & Gabbana? All sorted.

But back to the exhibition... rooms full of beautiful ball gowns, dapper suits and dazzling shoes from the likes of Prada, Roberto Capucci, D&G, Valentino and more. Every corner turned led to a beautifully crafted, immaculately presented, heavily beaded or absolutely flawless outfit. Walking through form the 1940's to the present day was pretty interesting. The best dress (in my opinion) was made by Roberto Capucci in 1957, a beautiful aubergine coloured dress with ruffles, and a matching velvet cape (alas, I took no pics) though a shift dress with the map of Italy appliqued on caught my eye (it even had little pins placed on the map!)

Take a sneak peak of the exhibition here!

Once I'd perused the exhibition, of course, it was off to the shop. At which point I got carried away and may just have bought every postcard under the sun, some of which I noticed I already had when I got back... to my dismay, however, none of my favourite outfits had been printed (My beautiful Capucci dress wasn't anywhere to be seen in the book either). The shop, for me is a killer (so many fashion books, so many art prints and not enough money in my purse)..... And I sometimes spend as much time in there as I do at the exhibit itself. Shop the V&A here (though it's much better in person!) If you haven't been to this exhibition go! and if you have, go again!

What's On?
The Glamour Of Italian Fashion 1945-2014 (Sat 5th April 2014 - Sun 27th July 2014)
Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 (Sat 3rd May 2014 - Sun 15th March 2014)
If there's nothing on I particularly fancy going to see, I go to the V&A's fashion section (this never gets old)

Oh look! More doors...

In my previous post I described the trauma I inflicted on malta in my quest to find the most attractive, most charming or most individual of doors.

I don't know exactly when, why or what made me so interested in a good door, but I can no longer walk down a road without peeping through gates to catch a glimpse of the grand entrance, and I must look suspicious when hovering in front of a house because 'ooooh isn't that colour just exquisite?'

In all the best children's story books, the adventures begin with a door. Goldilocks would never have been able to scoff the porridge, break a stool or get caught sleeping in a bears bed without the door having been left open to the cottage and Alice would not have discovered Wonderland and all it's strange residents without having first entered (after much shrinking) a teeny tiny door.

I have, to my relief, not had to experience any of the above scenarios, so I shall just keep my distance and take photos instead.

"It was the lock of the door which had been closed ten years and she put her hand in her pocket, drew out the key and found it fitted the keyhole. She put the key in and turned it. It took two hands to do it, but it did turn.

And then she took a long breath and looked behind her up the long walk to see if any one was coming. No one was coming. No one ever did come, it seemed, and she took another long breath, because she could not help it, and she held back the swinging curtain of ivy and pushed back the door which opened slowly–slowly.
Then she slipped through it, and shut it behind her, and stood with her back against it, looking about her and breathing quite fast with excitement, and wonder, and delight.
She was standing inside the secret garden." ~ The secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett.

xxx Lucy xxx

A Trip to Malta

I really wasn't joking when I said I was obsessed with doors. And I can only imagine how mental I must have looked to all the locals when they watched a crazy English girl running around taking tons of pictures of shabby chic (more shabby than chic) doors, most of which had to be discarded anyway because I hadn't focused the camera in my dash around the streets of Valetta.

However, after sifting out the blurry ones, I was left with a nice collection.

On another note, Malta is a beautiful Island and when I wasn't photographing doors I was snapping away at the scenery... or hoards of jellyfish carpeting the beaches... before realising I should pay attention to where I walk...

xxx Lucy xxx