Victoria & Albert The Glamour of Italian Fashion exhibition

After visiting the Wedding Dresses exhibition at the V&A, I headed over to The Glamour of Italian Fashion. I always think Italian fashion is a little too extravagant for me but, in fact, some of my favourite design brands are Italian, such as Prada and Miu Miu, or Dolce & Gabbana. 

As with Wedding Dresses, the clothes were displayed chronologically, beginning in 1945 and moving through to the top designers of today.

The clothes were all absolutely beautiful, with gorgeous details such as the oversized bow above, and really interesting structural elements.

I did find that, although the exhibition was held in the very large hall used for Hollywood Costume, only a very small surface area was used. The number of outfits on display was quite limited, especially when you're aware of how much can be fit into the space. There was even a narrow corridor which had been lined with mirrors, presumably to make the viewer think it was larger than it was. 

The book on the right is a tailor's book, featuring the appointment details and swatches of fabrics for his clients. I find these little details into the lives of ordinary people absolutely fascinating.

Overall, it was a very inspiring exhibition, although I still find it difficult to understand why the opportunity for a far larger range was missed. If you're already heading to the V&A, it's worth a look, but I wouldn't visit purely for that reason. What a shame!