Dior Haute Couture

A highlight of the London exhibition calendar this season is Tim Walker Story Teller, a beautifully-curated vision of the fashion photographer’s otherworldly images at Somerset House.

Yesterday, I was treated to a special preview of the exhibition, led by Tim Walker himself. Supported by Mulberry, the exhibition takes place in the stunning new East Wing Galleries at Somerset House and focuses on Walker’s photography. The dazzling images are punctuated with over-sized installations, props and sketches, offering an insight into the painstaking production and mechanics behind the shoots.

The subjects of the photographs are mostly the cream of the fashion world – supermodels, designers, renowned critics, East End club kids and the more avant-garde actresses. In the exhibition we see Karen Elson as Little Red Riding Hood, Kristen McMenamy entrapped by a white spider, Alber Elbaz in bunny ears, Lindsay Wixson terrorised by a giant doll and Helena Bonham-Carter as a disgruntled queen wearing Vivienne Westwood and sipping on a can of Diet Coke.

There is also a rare chance to see the sheer size of the installations that feature in the photographs, including a melancholy crying skeleton, a creepy over-sized doll, insects playing double bass, a snail crawling down the wall and a full-size Spitfire plane.

The exquisite garments are a huge part of the visual narratives and Tim Walker’s images were just made for showcasing couture. Look out for masterful, extravagant dresses by Chanel Haute Couture, Oscar de la Renta, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture, Givenchy Haute Couture, Dior Haute Couture, Giorgio Armani Privé, Atelier Versace, Alexander McQueen and Valentino Couture.

One of my favourite images from the show is Stella Tennant wearing a Peter Jensen magenta gown and covered in vivid pink powder clouds, shot in the gardens of Eglingham Hall in Northumberland. Having grown up in Northumberland and spent countless summers visiting the county’s various stately homes, it was a delight to see Tim Walker’s dreamy scenes shot there, bringing the historic rooms to life.

To coincide with the exhibition, Thames & Hudson have published the most beautiful book entitled Story Teller by Tim Walker (£45), featuring over 175 images from Walker’s personal archives – some images can also be spotted in the exhibition. The book includes a foreword by Kate Bush, an introduction by Robin Muir and a poetic afterword by Tim Walker. I was lucky enough to receive a copy to add to my fashion book collection and it’s already one of my favourites.

Tim Walker Story Teller is like stepping into a dream world, and the exhibition perfectly presents the fashion photographer’s breathtaking, imaginatively styled, witty and often whimsical and ethereal images. Spend a few hours getting lost in Tim Walker’s wonderland – it’s a truly enchanting, enthralling experience.

Tim Walker Story Teller runs until 27 January 2013 in the East Wing Galleries at Somerset House and admission is free. Story Teller by Tim Walker is available to buy at Amazon.co.uk

For more information, visit: www.somersethouse.org.uk

Photos by Mulberry and Chérie City

As ‘fashion month’ approaches, it’s time to pack away the summer jersey dresses and espadrilles and get back on track with some serious fashion worship.

My favourite exhibitions are usually of the fashion kind and this Autumn there are some incredible happenings in the art and fashion world.

Firstly, from next week until late September, Selfridges will host a retrospective of Dame Vivienne Westwood’s iconic shoes from 1973 to 2010.

The Ultra Lounge will be devoted to five decades worth of Viv’s much-loved shoes, from the voluptuous, death-defying platform heels, to the classic Pirate Boots and her later collaboration footwear with melissa. The infamous Super Elevated Gillie platforms that toppled Naomi Campbell on the catwalk in 1993 are also sure to make an appearance.

If you’ll be Paris during fashion week or any time from mid-September through to October, you really must take a detour to see Karl Lagerfeld’s photographer Exhibition at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, in the Marais.

Kaiser Karl’s love of photography and keen eye for detail has led him to shoot the Chanel campaigns, produce numerous editorial spreads, publish his own photography books and direct his own short films.

The featured photographs have yet to be revealed, but perhaps there may be some images of his Chanel girls Freja Beha Erichsen and Lara Stone alongside some insanely chiselled and beautiful male models such as Brad Kroenig and Karl’s muse, Baptiste Giabiconi.

If you have time, pop in to 7L, Karl’s photography bookshop beneath his photography studio to pick up some Karl-prescribed literature.

Somerset House continues its dedication to fashion and the arts with an exhibition to the work of renowned illustrator René Gruau (1909-2004).

René Gruau’s unmistakable, iconic illustration style shaped Christian Dior’s ‘New Look’ in the 1940s and his use of bold, minimal lines has has a remarkable influence of the world of graphic design and illustration, which continues today.

The exhibition will feature original illustrations for Parfums Christian Dior, vintage perfume bottles, sketches and magazines alongside a selection of Dior Haute Couture dresses. The exhibition also reveals the close friendship between the two creative geniuses and their shared vision of revolutionary elegance.

Vivienne Westwood Shoes, An Exhibition 1973-2010 will run from 26 August – 22 September at Selfridges, London.

Karl Lagerfeld Photography Exhibition will run from 10 September – 15 October at Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris.

Dior Illustrated: René Gruau and the line of beauty will run from at 10 November – 9 January at Somerset House, London.

Tim Walker Story Teller At Somerset House

This season’s must-see fashion exhibitions