Fashion fanatics assemble! A Chanel exhibition, ‘Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto‘ has been on display at the V&A since last year to celebrate the forward-thinking founder of one of the most successful fashion houses in existence. But it won’t be around forever – and there’s only a month left to catch it!
This major exhibition features over 200 looks and spans the entirety of Chanel’s career. It covers the full breadth of her impact – from her first Parisian boutique in 1910 all the way to her very final collection in 1971.
Said Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A museum:
“We are delighted to be partnering with Chanel and the Palais Galliera on this exhibition, which provides us with the opportunity to explore the origins and elements of this enduring style and to display little-known historic Chanel garments from the V&A collection.”
Inside the Chanel exhibition
Although it’s based on the exhibition created by the Palais Galliera in 2020, the London revamp features some significant changes. There are 122 new looks (some of which come from the V&A’s very own rarely-seen collection) and a greater focus on the designer’s love of Britain, which played a crucial part in the origin story of her legendary tweed suit.
The exhibition is split into various sections that range acoss her career. These explore the evolution of her designs, the establishment of the House of Chanel, and her trail-blazing, revolutionary designs. Famously, her pieces prioritised freedom, independence and practicality over tradition. Gabrielle Chanel created clothes that she wanted to wear. That meant saying goodbye to corsets, and hello to power suits. And her legacy continues to influence the way we dress today.
The Chanel exhibition was originally slated to close in late February, but has been extended to March 10. That means it’s only going to be around for three more weeks. If you haven’t seen it yet – act fast! You’ll need to be a V&A member to see the display, though, or know someone who’s a member; the exhibition is completely sold out!
So don your most iconic power suit, douse yourself in Chanel N°5, and get on down to the V&A. You won’t want to miss out on this fashion-filled fun.
‘Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto’ will run until March 10, 2024. Plan your visit here.
📍 Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL. The nearest station is South Kensington.