I was lucky to get a couple of tickets to see the Dior exhibition. The first time I tried to book, every date was sold out, but then a decision to extend the exhibition gave me a second chance and I got lucky. I know there are still some tickets available up to September if you would like to go.
If you read last weeks post, you will have seen the Mary Quant exhibition? And if I’m honest I preferred that one. It was more real in terms of, Yes I would wear that, I remember that and I had that!
The Dior exhibition was so beautiful artistic and opulent. Do I remember it? Hell yeah, loads of it but the chances of Dior ever covering my back are very slim.
I loved the Dior Illustrations dotted around the walls. Drawn by Christian Dior himself. They were available to buy at the museum in different sizes. I was very tempted but couldn’t think of where I would put them.
Dior – Embellishment, Tulle and Silk creations
There were so many beautiful dresses. Dress after dress, just so beautifully crafted. I stood there examining each one thinking how they were created. The dress in the middle was one piece of material and I wondered how that was done?
There was hardly a single dress that wasn’t embellished in some way. There were lots of films to watch on screens below the dresses that explained how they came to life and I’m adding a short film below of how some of this was done. So many hours, handcrafting a single dress.
The design process
There was a whole room of template designs and I enjoyed looking out for the finished designs in the different rooms
Just imagine hand sewing all that! Jaw-dropping! and for me, It was more about the work that had gone into creating it rather than the actual design.
Just look! How many hours do you think? No wonder each creation will start at thousands of pounds.
The title of the exhibition – Dior, Designer Of Dreams was very true to word. The Exhibition runs from Dior’s early days in the 1940s right up to the present day, but every dress I laid eyes on must have taken weeks or months to finish.
My cousin who I went to the exhibition with and I had a lengthy discussion over tea after the visit who our favourite designers that had governed the house of Dior up to this day. My favourites have to be Tom Ford and Maria Grazia Chiuri
A Dior dress fit for a princess
This was a highlight for me. The dress designed for princess Margaret’s 21st birthday was so well preserved. sewn with “golden straw”
Can we just take a look at how tiny the waist is? I was gobsmacked at how tiny it was. A lot of the dresses from the 40’s were the same. Was it because of the corsets? Or were women just so much smaller then?
Decor
I had to add this shot. One room, the ceiling was adorned with this floral paper display. You had to be there to take in the craftmanship. It was really beautiful.
One room was filled with gowns and in the middle of the room, there was a slow-moving carousel of designs. The music and the atmosphere was really moving. Considering how busy the exhibition was it was amazing how this room changed the mood to everyone being more or less silent. All of us watching with dropped jaws!
My favourites
A short film of how much work goes into embellishing a Dior dress
I’m adding this short film of how some of the dresses are created. It was how each flower was individually made that caught my attention. It’s really interesting.
You can still book tickets to view the Dior exhibition here And you can also find my post on the Mary Quant exhibition here
Thank you for stopping by!
Come back for more. Click on the subscribe form below
YOU MAY HAVE A FRIEND THAT’S INTERESTED IN THIS? PLEASE USE THE SHARE BUTTONS
HIT MY YOUTUBE BUTTON!
XO LAURIE
Subscribe for the latest updates!
Wow! What an exhibition. I can see why you wanted to get tickets.
Thanks for sharing with #pocolo
What gorgeous dress, Laurie. The kind of styles I love too 🙂 Thanks for sharing at The Summer Holiday Link Up 🙂
Wow Princess Margarets waist size is astonishing I agree!
Gorgeous images L xx
This is an absolutely wonderful post!
Those Dior sketches are just fabulous.
http://a-woman-of-a-certain-age.com/
Those Dior gowns are exquisite, pure works of art. But indeed, I would have been able to relate more to Mary Quant’s designs, which were, after all, affordable fashion. Still, it must have been amazing to see those gowns in real life! xxx
Love all the dresses, don’t know where I would wear them though #anythinggoes@_karendennis
Author
I agree Karen. But they were so lovely to look at. xx
The work is exquisite, and you took some fabulous photos!
Author
Hi Sandra. Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the tour! xx
Thanks so much for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty 40! Shared.
Author
Thank you xx
Beautiful dresses, but where would I wear them, too good for the grocery store #,PoCOLO@_karendennis
Author
Imagine sauntering down the aisle in one of those dresses Karen! xx
Oh my, Laurie!! Stunning post with fabulous photos and information!! Thank you so much for sharing and I feel like I was there!
Donna
Oh wow – great photos, but the video was amazing – how much detail goes into those dresses – they must have so much patience. I can see why they’re so expensive. What a joy to see that this morning. Really put me in a good and inspirational mood – well to see what to wear anyway. Happy Thursday and thanks for joining the #chicandstylish #linkup. J
Author
I know! I loved watching films about how everything was processed. It sort of explains the extortionate price tag! Glad you enjoyed Jacqui xx
This exhibit looks amazing! I would love to see it if it ever comes here! I’m swooning over all of those beautiful dresses!
Jill –
Author
I hope it does pay you a visit Jill. It was lovely to see xx
So very nice. Thanks for sharing it with us. #bloggerclubuk
Author
Hi. Thanks for stopping by xx
Oh my! Thanks for sharing! I would LOVE this exhibit! As a lover of fashion history I go to every fashion exhibit I can in NYC! They just don’t make gowns like this anymore. It’s a lost/dying art form. That dress made of one piece of fabric that gathered into a rose at the waist was heavenly. I would wear any of this in a heartbeat. Proudly. So I appreciate you sharing this amazing experience with us.
Author
Thanks so much, Lauren. You would like the Mary Quant one that I featured a week ago too xx
Ooo, I couldn’t imagine owning one! Like you said, where would I wear it? To the theatre? I would love to see this exhibition, seems dreamy and so elegant. I will have to check out the other exhibition you mention.
thanks for linking!
jess xx
I am unlikely to get over to see the exhibition, so thank you for sharing this Laurie. They are so beautiful and you are right those small waists are unbelievable.
Author
Thanks Jess. Glad you enjoyed xx
WOW it looks amazing! And all those beautiful dresses…. just extraordinary! How lucky that they decided to extend the exhibition.
Hugs
Suzy xx
Author
I was so lucky to get a ticket Suzy. The places literally disappeared before my eyes when I was trying to book xx
Oh oh oh oh! I am getting all exited to see these am az ing dresses! And to see them for real must be thrilling! I would want to touch them!
Author
So many were within reach to Nancy. It was tempting I can tell you xx
Thank you for covering the exhibition.
The dresses are not in my price range but I can dream.
Just beautiful!!!
Author
Thanks, Jeanette. Same! They were lovely to look at though! xx
Laurie, I would definitely enjoy seeing this exhibit. Like you, I’m not likely to ever have a Dior creation on my back, but I enjoy looking at them. The process is amazing, especially to me whose hand-sewing skills are sadly lacking.
Author
Hi Jean! I loved looking at the dresses but where would you wear one even if you could afford it? xx