The Bite Magazine - Summer 2019 - Issue 25

bite exhibition dient in some of the perfumes and as inspi- ration for the dresses. The flower section, as expected, is very delicate and sublime and almost takes you into a garden-like scenery. The Garden room pays homage to one of Christian Dior’s great passion: gar- dens. Whether its tulips, lily of the valley, jasmine or a rose, you can see all of these flowers make an appearance in many of the dresses in the garden room. Known for his elegant and signature ball- room gowns, the ballroom celebrates the fantasy of elite men and women coming together to dance with the ladies’ dress- es twirling as they danced and turned. At the exhibition, the ballroom showcases 70 years of stunning formal eveningwear and some of the most famous dresses that Dior designed displayed in a beautiful large room with a dramatic light installation. This room pays tribute to the incredible haute couture atelier and Christian Dior’s vision of formal wear. Some of the famous gowns you will see on display include Charlize Theron’s J’adore Swarovski crystal-encrusted gown from the 2008 J’adore Dior campaign. The face of J’adore since 2004, the actress has worn many haute couture creations specifical- ly designed with the perfume identity in mind. And the white gown that fellow actress Lupita Nyong’o wore to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Sorry Angel is also on display here. Elle Fanning’s floral-inspired gown that she wore to the Cannes Film Festival in 2017 was designed by Maria Grazia Churi for the Spring/Summer 2017 couture col- lection while Rihanna was dressed in the famous Croisette, a sweeping strapless Dior couture gown and matching coat that she wore at the 2017 Cannes Film Festi- val. Dior was truly fascinated by fairytale evening dresses so all of his designs in this calibre are here as well as those by the six artistic directors who succeeded him. The most fascinating section at the exhi- bition is the room full of white toiles. We don’t always know how haute couture and ready-to-wear pieces are made, so here you will be able to see how a dress or a coat is cut in plain white fabric before it comes alive in colour, embroidery or beading. To see all these pieces in person is a rarity and a really special opportunity when you real- ise how much goes into making them. The Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition features over 500 objects and over 200 rare haute couture garments so there is so much to see and something there for everyone. As I walked out of the exhibi- tion, one thing was certain and that is how much more wearable haute couture there is in 2019. As you go through the exhibition you will see how ostentatious some of the gowns from the previous era are, and as we moved to 2019 just how simplified, weara- ble and accessible couture has become. Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibi- tion will be at the V&A Museum until Sun- day 1st September. www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/dior-de- signer-of-dreams to the beauty of the female body” - Christian Dior Diorling perfume, 1963 Photo © Laziz Hamani Christian Dior by John Galliano, J’adore, Dress, Haute Couture, 2008 (custom-made) Photo © Laziz Hamani Christian Dior Parfums collection, Paris