Summer in London was all about the Olympic Games and the Royal Family, but for autumn 2012, the focus is firmly back on fashion. What better way to ease into the colder months than in a cosy museum in the company of haute couture and beautiful photography?
See the very best fashion exhibitions in Europe this autumn…
Tim Walker: Story Teller, supported by Mulberry, explores the great fashion photographer’s mesmerising, often whimsical images created for the world’s top fashion magazines. Alongside instantly recognisable and rarely seen photographs, the exhibition reveals the mechanics behind the magical images with props and installations, including a giant doll and Spitfire plane.
– Somerset House, London – 18 October 2012 – 27 January 2013
Chloé Attitudes celebrates the 60 years of the maison founded by Gaby Aghion, with its first dedicated exhibition. On display will be key looks from each of Chloé’s nine designers, exploring the brand’s aesthetic and iconic signatures. It will be difficult not to feel a hint of nostalgia when seeing memorable designs by Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Phoebe Philo and Martine Sitbon, alongside early creators and current designer Clare Waight Keller. Also featured are never-seen-before drawings and images of the Chloé woman by Guy Bourdin, Helmut Newton, Jeanloup Sieff and David Bailey.
– Palais de Tokyo, Paris – until 18th November
Madame Grès – Sculptural Fashion pays tribute to the elements of sculpture in Madame Grès’ designs, from her exquisite draping and Hellenic-inspired evening gowns to chic beachwear. The exhibition has been developed in collaboration with Belgian artist Renato Nicolodi and his works also feature. If you missed the Madame Grès retrospective at the Musée Galliera, Paris, this is a great opportunity to see the garments interpreted in a new way.
– Momu, Antwerp – until 10th February 2013
Valentino: Master of Couture celebrates Valentino Garavani’s nearly half-century in fashion and the artistry behind his brand. The dedicated three-part exhibition begins by focusing on Valentino’s personal life with photos from his archive, leading into a major survey of his haute couture, featuring an impressive 130 pieces. Finally, visitors are given a rare insight into the craft of couture, showcasing the intricate work of ‘les petits mains’, whose exquisite hand-sewing, beadwork and embroidery made Valentino a cut above the rest.
– Somerset House, London – 29 November 2012 – 3 March 2013
The Little Black Jacket is the travelling photographic exhibition to accompany Karl Lagerfeld’s book, ‘The Little Black Jacket; CHANEL’s classic revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld’. The exhibition features 113 photographs showing the iconic Chanel jacket worn in a number of ways by such as Sofia Coppola, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kanye West, Waris Ahluwalia and Kirsten Dunst. See the exhibition before it moves on to Moscow, Sydney, Paris and finishes in Berlin.
– Saatchi Gallery, London – 12 October – 4 November