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London’s Must-See Fashion Exhibitions of 2023
The most fascinating fashion displays which you won't want to miss
By | 2 weeks ago
There’s a plethora of art exhibitions in London – and across the UK – at all times. But if you’re more interested in the art of dressing, you’ve come to the right place. These are the best fashion exhibitions to visit this year.
The Must-See Fashion Exhibitions of 2023
- Open now–10 September 2023: Ashish: Fall in Love and Be More Tender, William Morris Gallery
- Open now–8 October 2023: Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians, The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
- Open now–7 April 2024: DIVA, V&A
- 16 September 2023–25 February 2024: Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto, V&A
- 21 September 2023–17 January 2024: The Morgan Stanley Exhibition: The Missing Thread, Somerset House
Ashish, Spring Summer 2023 © Ashish Shah. Cerise sequin sari
Ashish: Fall in Love and Be More Tender
When? 1 April–10 September 2023
Where? William Morris Gallery
The first major survey of fashion designer Ashish Gupta will provide an unprecedented overview of the designer’s subversive and playful practice. Showcasing over 60 designs – worn by the likes of Beyonce, Debbie Harry, Hunter Schafer, Rihanna, Charli XCX and Taylor Swift – expect glamour, maximalism and painstaking craftsmanship.
BOOK IT: Free entry (suggested donation £5). wmgallery.org.uk
(Courtesy of the Fashion Museum Bath)
Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians
When? 21 April–8 October 2023
Where? The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Bringing together over 200 words from the Royal Collections – including paintings, prints and drawings by artists such as Gainsborough, Zoffany and Hogarth, alongside rare surviving clothing and accessories – Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians illustrates a picture of what the Georgians wore, from laundry maids to court darlings. Expect major Bridgerton vibes.
BOOK IT: Tickets from £9 per person. rct.uk
Read our full review of Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians here
Whitney Houston performing at Wembley Arena, London, UK 5 May 1988
DIVA
When? Until 7 April 2024
Where? The V&A (South Kensington)
Though not solely a fashion exhibition, expect to see incredible costumes and sketches exploring the fashion of history’s most iconic performers at this V&A exhibition, spanning Victorian opera to modern day pop.
BOOK IT: Tickets are £20 per person. vam.ac.uk
Evening dress. Spring-summer 1930. Silk satin with inserts. Paris, Patrimoinede Chanel (© Julien T. Hamon)
Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto
When? 16 September 2023–25 February 2024
Where? The V&A (South Kensington)
The V&A is teaming up with Palais Galliera, Fashion Museum of the City of Paris, to bring one of the most fêted fashion designers in history to the UK. This will be the first exhibition in the UK dedicated to Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, and will trace the designer’s pioneering career from the opening of her first millinery boutique in Paris in 1910 to the showing of her final collection in 1971. The exhibition will feature over 180 looks, as well as perfumery, accessories and jewellery from the world-renowned fashion house.
BOOK IT: Tickets available soon. vam.ac.uk
The Missing Thread. © Eileen Perrier 1 ‘Afro Hair and Beauty’, 1998.
The Missing Thread Sponsored By Morgan Stanley
When? 21 September 2023–17 January 2024
Where? Somerset House
This major new exhibition will explore the story of Black British fashion, chronicling the shifting landscape across 50 years and the contribution Black British culture has made to Britain’s design history. Celebrating the unique impact of a largely unseen generation of Black creatives, The Missing Thread will examine how culture, politics and socio-economics shaped Black style – and, in turn, mainstream fashion.
BOOK IT: Details TBA. somersethouse.org.uk
Featured image: Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians (courtesy of Royal Collection Trust).
