Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950
McQueen, Westwood, Rhodes, Saunders; the V&A’s upcoming exhibition Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 celebrates the best in British ballgown design.

Source: David Hughes
Erdem Autumn/Winter 2008
Curated by Oriole Cullen and Sonnet Stanfill, Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 runs from May 19. The gallery hopes the exhibition will show how ballgowns went from being worn at private events to charity galas to being on display to the public at red carpet events.

Source: Carlos Jimenez, V and A Images
Atsuko Kudo, worn by Georgia Frost with dresses by Hardy Amies and Worth of London, 2011
Traditional 50s ballgowns will be exhibited alongside contemporary dresses by Stella McCartney, Victor Stiebel, Catherine Walker and Erdem.

Source: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Worth of London
Worn by celebrities at awards ceremonies, fashion models on couture runways and royalty at galas – previous owners of the dresses on display include Princess Diana, Kate Moss and Elizabeth Hurley.

Source: Christopher Moore, catwalking.com
Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2011
The exhibition has been designed by Emily Pugh with a team of freelancers such as the architect Tom Elliott. They are using images, video clips and fashion accessories to add context to the dresses.

Source: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
State evening ensemble ‘Elvis Dress’ , Catherine Walker 1989
The V&A want the main gallery space to evoke a country manor and the mezzanine level to reflect the glamour of a red carpet event with dramatic pavillions and giant pearls.

Source: David Hughes
Victor Edelstein 1986
Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 will run from May 19 – January 6 2013 at the V&A, Cromwell Road, London, SW7
wow an exhibition not to miss. I have been working on a sketchbook of fashion dresses, inspired by the womanly silhouette of the 50’s over the past few weeks. I will have to visit though either well before or after the Olympics !! I might come with the students too – I teach at The Manchester College.