Two centuries of British fashion from the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection

Sack-back gown and petticoat
Britain, 1760–1765.
Silk and silk fringe; hand-sewn.
The Victoria and Albert Museum.
Fan
France, 1870–1890.
Gouache on paper, mother-of-pearl sticks and guards; handiwork.
The Victoria and Albert Museum.
Gown
Britain, 1795–1805.
Cotton; hand-sewn.
Given by Messrs Harrods. The Victoria and Albert Museum.
Court coat and waistcoat
Britain, 1795–1804.
Silk velvet and silk satin, embroidered with silk thread; hand-sewn.
Given by Lady Caroline Tyrell. The Victoria and Albert Museum.
Riding habit jacket
London, "John Redfern and Sons", 1885.
Wool and silk braid; machine and hand-sewn.
Given by the Honourable Mrs S.F. Tyser. The Victoria and Albert Museum .
Woman’s bag
Great Britain, 1820-1830.
Pair of women’s shoes
Britain, 1720–1740.
Leather, silk satin, silver-gilt braid and silk braid; handiwork.
Given by Miss C.E. Keddle. The Victoria and Albert Museum.
Parasol
Britain, the 1870s.
Ivory, silk, Brussels bobbin lace silk.
The Victoria and Albert Museum.
Woman’s bonnet
Britain, 1840–1849.
Silk, linen, cardboard, cotton and wire; hand-sewn.
Given by Messrs Harrods. The Victoria and Albert Museum.
Woman’s gloves
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France, 1880-1900.
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September, 5 - November, 16, 2008

the One-Pillar Chamber of the Patriarch's Palace

Organized by:: the Moscow Kremlin Museums and Victoria and Albert Museums

01# Sack-back gown and petticoat The exhibition resulted from collaboration between the two world-famous museums in Russia and Britain. It is the first part of a project of cultural exchange, organized by the Moscow Kremlin Museums and Victoria and Albert Museums. The V&A Museum at South Kensington possesses the world's greatest collections of art and design, unrivalled in their scope and diversity. It represents 300 years of the world's history of culture, including development and evolution of British applied arts and design during 400 years. The display presents the most remarkable articles by the best modelers and tailors, who have been working on demand of the English customers, i.e. costumes, dresses, fabrics and accessories of great cultural and artistic value. It reveals the evolution and diversity of styles and techniques of textile industry in the United Kingdom, the close interaction between european and national traditions typical of British fashion.

The exhibition captures the courtly splendour and discreet elegance of British dress of the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries, and features men's and women's fashionable clothing and accessories, with fine examples of textiles and textile designs, including woven and embroidered silks, printed cottons and lace. Visitors will see elegant rococo gowns and petticoats, court mantuas and domestic robes of the XVIIIth century, walking suits and riding habits, streamy, almost transparent tunics of the so-called naked fashion, mantles and capes of the late XIXth century. Also the exhibition illustrates fashionable styles of male clothing of several periods. From the ornate richness of a court mantua to the minimalism of contemporary couture, the display presents a unique history of high fashion.

Accessories of different materials, decorated with precious stones, metals and outstanding hand-sewn lace, textiles and textile designs from London's silk industry are the highlights of the exposition. Luxurious fans, tiny parasols, embroidered kerchiefs, woman's and man's shoes, headwear and bags will make you admire delicate workmanship and beauty of materials.

Such a remarkable exposition possesses a historical and cultural significance and helps the visitors to get acquainted with history and culture of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.