A ‘V&A’ (view & assess) of Bridal
Friday the 13th just gone, Friday ‘Brideday’ unlucky for some? Or indeed maybe ‘lucky’?…Went to the Wedding dresses show at the Victoria & Albert Museum to ‘view and assess’ the offerings on show. I just had to go…what with my strange ‘bridal obsession’….I mean why I love looking at bridal wear is beyond me…when I have never been a bride or highly unlikely to be..(I know v hard to believe). In ‘honour’ of my love for those bridal programme’s (their just immensely enjoyable indulgence where I can just escape for a 30min slot & can just think about brides…) So viewing the Wedding dresses show was Essential…First off it was rather busy (being a Friday evening) but there was no going back...also there was a rather an off putting sign at the entrance, announcing ‘no photography or sketching’ so I felt rather sorry for any visiting students or fashion illustrators, but undaunted I forged ahead & I was determined to get a ‘sneaky PIC’ (very naughty of know…but I wasn’t going to travel all that way & not get a one photo) question was how to do it without getting caught by one of the security guards who were wondering about with their Walkie talkie’s..?
Well by stealth & ingenuity I managed one PIC, and actually one of my favourites a Pam Hogg one worn by model Mary Charteris when she married singer Robbie Furze…..I must say it is a ‘most becoming affair’ beautifully executed with a wonderful yet romantic design. To be honest there were so many beautiful gowns from the mid 17th century up to the present I was ‘spoilt for choice’. I did manage to get another photo but this one was from one of their normal costume display’s, (so no photo restrictions) a mid Victorian gown with paisley shawl which I feel is a very nice contrast to the contemporary Pam Hogg one. Kate Moss’s wedding dress was also on show, a beautiful gold embroidered ‘gossamer’ gown by John Galliano (a brave choice at the time as he had just been ousted from Dior not long before)..but the result was stunning..the visiting crowd were a mixture of ages & were mainly ‘predictably women’ though let’s not ignore the male visitors.. I must say I left feeling rather ‘enchanted’ with this ‘bridal affair’ it was certainty great to have a ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ experience up close. (Despite not only never been the bridesmaid, let alone the bride…)