Inside Chanel’s major upcoming exhibition at the V&A Museum in London: this September, over 200 historic looks will be on show at ‘Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto’ in honour of the late designer

STORYdpa

Mar 30, 2023

Coco Chanel is one of the most influential fashion designers of all time. Photos: Getty Images

From September 16, 2023, to February 25, 2024, over 200 Chanel looks will be on display at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum in celebration of the late Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel

As the UK’s first exhibition dedicated to the work of the French icon, the monumental event will feature outfits worn by late Hollywood stars Lauren Bacall, Marlene Dietrich and more

More than 200 Chanel looks will be seen together for the first time in a forthcoming exhibition in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) on the work of French fashion designer Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.

People walk outside a Chanel store on New Bond Street in London, Britain. Photo: Reuters

“Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto” will unfold over 10 sections, charting the evolution of her design style and the establishment of the House of Chanel, from the opening of her first millinery boutique in Paris in 1910 to the showing of her final collection in 1971.

Following the announcement of the exhibition last year, the V&A has confirmed that more than 200 looks will feature, as well as accessories, perfumes and jewellery from the world-renowned fashion house. The first set of limited tickets were released on March 23, and further tickets will be available in June. It will run from September 16, 2023, to February 25, 2024.

Fashion designer Coco Chanel (1883-1971), circa the early 50s. Photo: Getty Images

The first UK exhibition dedicated to the work of Chanel, and a reimagining of the “Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto” show organised by the Palais Galliera in Paris, the V&A display will also include rarely seen pieces from the London museum’s collection, as well as looks from Palais Galliera and the Patrimoine de Chanel – the heritage collections of the fashion house in the French capital.

The preview of the National Gallery of Victoria’s summer exhibition “Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto” at NGV International in December 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Getty Images

One of the earliest surviving Chanel garments – a silk jersey blouse dating back to 1916 – will be on display, in addition to original costumes designed by Chanel for the Ballets Russes production of Le Train Bleu in 1924 and outfits specially created for late Hollywood stars Lauren Bacall and Marlene Dietrich.

The costumes for the ballet Le Train Bleu were designed by Coco Chanel and the choreography was by Bronislava Nijinska. Photo: Getty Images

An early example of Chanel’s innovative evening trouser and ensembles from the designer’s final collection, which was presented two weeks after her death on January 26, 1971, will also feature.

The 10 sections – each following a different theme – will explore Chanel’s unique approach to fabric, silhouette and construction, and will examine how she drafted a new framework for fashion in the 20th century.