Dior at the V&A - The Garden

As I mentioned in last week's post, The Garden was my second-favourite section of the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition at the V&A.

It wasn't just the dresses that I liked; the theme is enhanced by the dense paper foliage which covers the ceiling, with small lights shining through it. In places it extends down the walls, and there are a few clumps of paper 'plants' on the floor as well.

There are roses, and other flowers . . .

. . . and lots of fern-like leaves

The centrepiece is this amazing dress, 'Jardin Fleuri', by Maria Grazia Chiuri, Dior's current creative director.

Front, back and side views

The dress is from the spring/summer 2017 collection, and the decoration is created from cut and dyed feathers.

Close-up of the feather 'petals'

From my own limited experience of working with feathers I know just how awkward they can be, so I was totally in awe of the workmanship, especially as I couldn't see a single stitch attaching the feathers to the silk.

The rest of the display is arranged in a curve round this central case. As this point I must admit that unfortunately I was a Very Bad Blogger, and forgot to take notes of most of the dresses, so the background information is incomplete.

The dress on the far right is by Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior Boutique, c. 1960

Autumn/winter 2010, John Galliano

The dress on left is look 47, autumn/winter 2012, Raf Simons

The dress on the left below is 'Muguet' (the French name for lily of the valley), spring/summer 1957, Dior, while the full-length dress on the right is 'Nuit Australe', autumn/winter 2017, by Maria Grazia Chiuri.

Paper lilies of the valley round a dress of the same name

Look 19, autumn/winter 2010, John Galliano

Much as I liked the feathered dress, this one was my favourite. Also from the spring/summer 2017 collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri, 'Mémoire d'Hiver' has hand-painted silk petals caught like pressed flowers between layers of tulle, and a copper belt.

'Winter Memory'

It is displayed next to the similarly-coloured look 34, autumn/winter 2018

Foliage trailing back down to earth marks the end of the section