Throughout her lifetime, Gabrielle Chanel had created an impressive catalogue of timeless designs, all of which carry influence and weight even today. Instead of allowing her design ethos to be dictated by social norms, Chanel aimed to do the reverse. She had a keen eye for the needs and wants of the modern woman, providing unprecedented independence and freedom through clothing.
To chart such a lifetime of innovation requires scale and deliberation, which is what the exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto, has managed to deliver. Based on the exhibition of the same name at Palais Galliera in Paris, the V&A Museum enlarged its scope in curation and storytelling.
Adding 100 new objects (including 60 new looks), the exhibition spans 10 different segments and celebrates Chanel’s groundbreaking approach to design. It also explores her affinity with the British fashion landscape, which includes her use of the quintessentially English textile, tweed, as well as her partnerships with textile firms and factories in Huddersfield.
This story is from the November 2023 edition of Vogue Singapore.
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This story is from the November 2023 edition of Vogue Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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