The V&A Octagon Court, 1920Access to the V&A Fashion collection is one of my favorite parts of living in London. This amazing museum is just a hop off the tube at South Kensington, a quick walk through the subway (British for a sidewalk that goes underground, keeping tourists from getting hit by cars and buses as we inevitably look the wrong way before crossing the road.) And it's free! The Fashion Gallery is currently closed and won't be reopened until Spring 2012 - but there are always some pieces on display and special exhibits like the recent Grace Kelly retrospective and the current Yohji Yamamoto exhibition.
The V&A has collected clothing, accessories, jewellery, gloves and handbags (or 'dress') since the 17th century with a focus on current fashion influences.
The world's iconic fashion moments are displayed inside, including the platform shoes Naomi Campbell famously tripped over on the runway. It's funny to see how the world of fashion changes. In 1993, those Vivienne Westwood's were considered shocking and fetishistic. This week, Victoria Beckham wore Louboutin shoes in the same vein to the Royal Wedding and didn't raise an eyebrow - and she's pregnant!
But my favorite part of the V&A is the secluded 'Members Room'. As part of your annual membership, you get free access to the special exhibits and if you wind your way up the stairs to the 4th level, go through the architecture collection and the glass collection (past the amazing Dale Chihuly pieces) you find a discreet mirrored door at the end of the hall with a small sign. Enter with your membership card and you get access to a small private cafe with fabulous London views, free wifi and accessible power outlets for laptop plug ins, and it's so quiet. A wonderful place to hide and write, work, have coffee with a friend, and reflect on the inspiration surrounding you!
Learn more about the Fashion Gallery restoration below:
The V&A is undertaking a major renovation of Gallery 40, which currently houses the museum's fashion collection. Opened in 1909 as part of Aston Webb's expansion of the museum, the gallery was first known as the Octagon Court. It was designed as a spacious domed court with large alcoves, architectural columns, mosaic flooring, and glazed roofing that provided natural light throughout the gallery. It had an upper gallery added in 1962 and the lower space was turned into a space for the display of fashion, which remains its purpose.
A programme of refurbishments will reveal the historic features of the gallery with a new lighting scheme and the renovation of the gallery's mosaic flooring. Gallery 40 will be closed from mid November 2010 while these works take place and will reopen in Spring 2012 with a temporary fashion display, as part of the V&A's commitment to fashion within the public programme. A large part of the Fashion collection is always available to view online at Search the Collections. There are also examples of British fashion to be seen in the British Galleries at the V&A. The renovation is a much needed project which will restore the gallery to enable the space to showcase both temporary exhibitions and permanent collection pieces.
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