Stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor became style ambassadors for Italian fashion in the 1950s and 1960s and this exhibition from the Victoria and Albert Museum aims to trace the history of Italian Glamour from 1945 to the Present day. Told by the companies that contributed to the glamour, on display will be around 100 ensembles and accessories by leading Italian fashion houses including Simonetta, Pucci, Sorelle Fontana, Valentino, Gucci, Missoni, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Prada and Versace, through to the next generation of fashion talent.

With the film industry clamoring to use Italian fashion, after the landmark Sala Bianca’ catwalk shows held in Florence in the 1950s it is no wonder that the reputation for highend Italian fashion goods has endured. The exhibition running from the 5 April – 27 July will cover all aspects of the Italian fashion industry including men’s wears to really highlight why the Italian fashion industry has a reputation for its high quality of materials, techniques and processes used in manufacture.

Talks from leading fashionists will include Roberto Cavalli and The iconic Italian designer Giambattista Valli who held senior creative positions at Fendi, Krizia and Ungaro and if you have ever wanted to know what goes into the mounting of an exhibition of this kind, a blog by the textile curators and exhibition assistants can be found online here

For more information about the exhibition please go to www.vam.ac.uk

Credits:
1. Evening dress of silk, designed by Roberto Capucci, 1987-1988. Courtesy Roberto Capucci Foundation