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V&A Dundee celebrates the history of the catwalk, from discreet salons to today’s extravaganzas
Scottish designers are showcased alongside a backstage set and props including a Chanel-branded megaphone
TL;DR
- The V&A Dundee's 'Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show' exhibition explores over a century of fashion show history.
- It traces the evolution from discreet 19th-century salons to the grand spectacles of today.
- The exhibition features works by designers like Manolo Blahnik, Christopher Kane, Charles Jeffrey Loverboy, and Nicholas Daley.
- It details how fashion shows moved from salons to public spaces and became significant marketing tools.
- The rise of ready-to-wear influenced more dynamic and expressive catwalk presentations in the 1950s and 60s.
- Modern shows are depicted as immersive spectacles with theatrical staging and global reach, amplified by social media.
- The exhibition includes elements like Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel rocket show and innovative invitations from brands like Lacoste and Balenciaga.
- It also explores the backstage chaos and collaborative nature of fashion shows through displays of makeup and hair artistry.
- The evolution of fashion shows is presented in tandem with social and cultural changes since the 1960s.
- The exhibition argues that fashion shows, whether attended or not, respond to and shape culture.