Dior Designer of Dreams
The VIctoria and Albert Museum has been putting on successful exhibitions since it opened in 1857. It has even been curating them since before I had started volunteering at the Museum, which is shocking, I know.
The Victoria and Albert Museum is always an overwhelming place to visit. It can also be a rather daunting museum to visit with its eight miles of corridor and 2.3 million objects on public display. I have always enjoyed visiting this very special museum, and now it has given me a new lease on life. It has also become a strong part of my own identity as its rather unique and special, rather like me.
Only the other day I went on a fact finding mission within the museum and learnt that the museum had been heavily bombed in the Second World War. One can see the damage clearly when one is walking along Exhibition Road. There are gaping holes in the beautiful Victorian architecture, which is sad but serves as a harrowing reminder of the woes of war.
It was Sir Aston Webb who built most of the museum and in fact he won a competition to build it. His vision was to build a cathedral towards art and architecture. The Victoria and Albert museum strikes me as a one of a kind museum because there is also something new to see, and that includes their recent and hugely successful Dior exhibition; no matter how many times one see it there is always a new fact one can learn.
When I started as a volunteer, during Easter time the Dior exhibit had already been cheered as an almighty success. In fact, when I joined I had missed seeing the Prime Minister's visit by just three weeks!
I think that it's wonderful that there is an exhibition dedicated to women's fashion and the power thereof, as there seem to be so few exhibitions dedicated to the empowerment and emboldenment of women. I think they should create more exhibitions highlighting the importance of woman within our society.
I have been to see the "Dior, the Designer of Dreams" exhibition four times and I spot something new each time. This exhibition displayed over 200 rare Haute Couture garments which were taken from the Victoria and Albert's own archive. As a volunteer who goes to the VandA on a weekly basis I have obtained a wealth of knowledge about Dior and how the V&A manages to put on exhibitions of this size and status.
Firstly, they organise it all through the Government, as the museum is run by the Government. The garments themselves come from private collections or are donated by wealthy families or patrons. So when a family member does not want their family to have these expensive clothes after they pass away, knowing perhaps that they would not be well looked after, they give them as a gift to the museum on their death. By thesen same means the Museum's collections are always growing and expanding. This museum is rather special because it has the fashion element to its other varied galleries. I believe that fashion is important in modern life and I am pleased to see exhibitions dedicated towards women's fashion, and I think they should do more as its been one hell of a success!
Many people helped advertise Dior and the Dior style of couture. A fashion company also becomes a global success when a member of the Royal family wears their clothing. Such was the case with Dior when Princes Margaret (August 1930 to 2002) became one of their fans. She was really wonderful with spreading the word and representing women's power and presence through fashion. This would prove successful for Dior because she would then unwittingly advertise it to her rich friends, so then they would buy Dior too. Dior also became a huge success because it showed off women's fashion, and it broke away from the Second World War the army uniforms associated therewith.
What I like about Dior is that it has bright colours. With my own dress sense I like to have bright colours because they cheer me up immensely.
There is also the aspect of Social History when one visits Dior, it is more than just a parade of finary, it is a needle-point in history. Dior was able to create its own trend and fashion while well-established institutions like Ralph Lauren and Vogue followed in its wake. The social history of the Dior can also be seen by the special designed wedding dresses and the outfits that would have been worn for places like at Royal Ascot or for garden parties. These dresses would have first been worn by Royals then with the Royal seal of approval having been given, everyone else would feel the need to buy one. In these ways, along with many others, the mark left by Dior has unequivocal and immense both in fashion and across society.
The Dior exhibition starts from 1947 right up to today. One sees a huge scope of fashion and styles and how these changed with the times. I think that the Dior exhibition was a huge success because it displayed how powerful women's fashion was and how successful it has become. I also think that it was displayed and organised to perfection.
On my last visit I went with Georgie Atkin who is an art Historian and she was able to impart on me interesting facts and ideas about Dior. I was curious to seek out her opinion as she is a wonderful mentor and I have learnt a lot of History and useful facts about life from her. Georgie said if one is bored from seeing it from a fashion perspective one can see this expedition from the view point of an interior decorator, or an architect, or a historian. I found this perspective relishing to think about because one can think that each room is decorated differently and one truly sees the Dior in the new light.
Overall, it took a while for me to understand what the fuss with the Dior was all about. After my second visit I understood a bit more of what Dior was all about both in regards to fashion but also women's emancipation and their presence within society and it's confines. On my third visit with Georgie I understood even more about contextuality, and even warmed up to the whole idea of Dior. In the end, I understood Dior and its purpose on a more personal level because like me, it wants to achieve one key thing: dress to impress.
