One of the world’s most prominent and everlasting fashion designers, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, is set to have her work celebrated in a one-of-a-kind exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, opening next month.
Named Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto, the exhibit will focus solely on her contributions to the fashion industry during the 20th Century. The exhibition itself will feature more than 100 of Chanel’s couture garments from the Palais Galliera, Patrimoine de Chanel (Chanel’s archives) and additional public and private collections.
Now, House Ambassador and Actress Margaret Qualley has given us an exclusive behind the scenes look at the collection and we’ve never been more excited for anything in our life.
Donning an iconic ivory tweed skirt-suit for the occasion, the Maid actress gives us a glimpse about what the exhibition will entail.
According to Qualley, “you enter the exhibit and you’re thrown into the 20s”.
“I don’t think people realise just how practical a lot of these clothes are and her fascination with making everything incredibly wearable”, the star continues.
“These dresses are so delicate and can’t be worn as they’re museum artefacts. But maybe that’s better, because they get to be worn by everybody who sees them.”
Speaking on her feelings for the upcoming exhibition, Qualley mentions “I’m excited they’re traveling to Melbourne so that they’ll have a whole new set of admirers”.
You can count us as one of those.
The exhibition is in partnership with Paris’ leading fashion museum, the Palais Galliera, which launched the inspiring exhibit back in Autumn 2020. The exhibit is all the more special given Melbourne will be the first city to host it outside of France.
NGV will also showcase items from its own collections with never-before-seen pieces including a white lace ‘Evening dress’ from Spring/Summer 1933 and a shirred red silk velvet marabou-lined ‘Evening cape’ created somewhere between 1924 and 1926.
The exhibition will share Chanel’s work across a variety of thematic and chronological sections, diving deep into her everlasting influence on the fashion industry, plus, her impact on perfume, jewellery and accessory design.
Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto also features some of Chanel’s signature lace gowns, tweed suits—made famous by famous faces like Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Grace of Monaco—and beaded garments. The fashion designer was vital when it came to redefining women’s apparel in the 20th century, by designing garments promoting comfort as well as elegance, with her iconic little black dress serving as her most-loved design.
The official opening of Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto will run from December 4, 2021 to April 25, 2022 and will also coincide with the return of one of Melbourne’s biggest events—the NGV Gala.
Tickets for both the exhibition and gala are on sale now.
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