“The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945–2014.”
On Saturday the prestigious London museum of art and design, Victoria and Albert Museum, showcased their exhibit “The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945–2014.” Sponsored by renowned Italian fashion powerhouse Bulgari, the show presents the most comprehensive display on the history of Italian fashion to date.
The exhibit starts with an in-depth look at the country’s post Second World War attempt to revive the mentally and financially drained nation through the textile industry—a conjunction between factory restoration in the mid 40’s and a growing artisanal presence helped fashion to become a mainstay of the recovery effort.
After years of deprivation and wartime poverty, a thirst for luxury, for glamour existed. And Italy provided. From finely tailored suits to dazzling couture gowns, Italian high fashion won over the world. Pop culture played a large role in this popularization, and movies such as La Dolce Vita (1960) led to a rise in the appreciation of Italian textile production that still exists today.
The exhibit incorporates the increasingly international nature of the industry, emphasizing the current recognition of fashion designers as celebrities. This global shift of the industry has many wondering what’s in store for the future of Italian fashion. The exhibit contemplates what significance the “Made in Italy” label will have in years to come.
On display are outfits and accessories crafted by dominant Italian fashion houses including Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Pucci, Fendi, Prada, Valentino, Simonetta, Sorelle Fontana, Giorgio Armani, Missoni, Versace etc.
The exhibit will run until July 27th at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England. For more information on the exhibit, please visit: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-the-glamour-of-italian-fashion-1945-2014/
-Rose Minutaglio