Italy’s fashion aristocracy descended on London last week for the first of three private viewings in advance of the opening of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s new blockbuster exhibition, The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014.
Valentino Garavani, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, Angela Missoni, Giambattista Valli and Peter Dundas of Emilio Pucci were among the designers who flew in for a private dinner and were the first to view the collection, which draws partly from their archives.
The exhibition showcases more than 90 ensembles and accessories from 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.
Highlights include a 1968 Emilio Pucci bikini and playsuit, a 1977 red tulle Valentino…