Icons of British Fashion

The tutors at the National Academy of Creative Arts are a lot like their students; they never stop learning, and their curious mind don’t rest. One such tutor is Deborah Walsh whose passion for all things fashion brought her to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for The Icons of British Fashion exhibition. Here’s what she saw:

Well-known brands and designers including Dame Vivienne Westwood have taken over one of the rooms at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for The Icons of British Fashion exhibition.

The exhibition was amazing. Lots of examples of each designer’s work. I was lucky to see many garments from a wide range of designers and it exceeded my expectations. It was a surprise and delight to see John Galliano’s dresses, as this collection wasn’t mentioned when I booked the tickets. These were some of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen.

I left the exhibition feeling inspired and proud of our British designers. As you walk through each of the rooms a different designer had inhabited the space. The way the clothing had been placed against the breath-taking backdrop of each room was just perfection. There is also information on each designer as well as insights into what inspired them.

Here are just a few images from some of the designers on show.

Dame Vivienne Westwood - As you enter the exhibition you are hit by several of her dresses through the years. This is the back of one of her showstopper dresses.

John Galliano - His work is just perfection.

Zandra Rhodes used pins to create pleating and draping. Many of the dresses showed her prints.

Temperley London – This exhibit was a collection of garments showcasing exquisite embroidery and sequins. We could also see some of her sketch books and paper prototypes on display.

Stella McCartney - A large amount of the exhibition space is dedicated to her work, including how she is developing different vegan leathers for her high-end bags. This is displayed alongside her back collection. My favourite piece was her interpretation of a battle jacket covered in patches.

Bruce Oldfield shows his interesting pattern cutting techniques and fabric manipulations.

Terry de Havilland Shoes - It was great to see the shoes and the patterns for his famous Pop art painted shoes, worn by celebrities such as Amy Winehouse

Barbour - This section shows their classic designs, alongside pieces from designers, and brands they have collaborated with such as GANNI and Alexa Chun

Fashion design and the arts in general, is an innate drive in a person to simply create. It is something that is always with you. Designers will journey through life, constantly on the lookout for new ideas and eternally influenced by the classics of the past. When our tutors share their experiences, it is to show students that there is a whole world of fascinating design work, right at your fingertips. All you need to do is go and take a look.
If this exhibition stirs up ideas inside you, and you are picturing yourself sharing the stage with these great British designers, then look no further. There is no better place to start than the National Academy of Creative Arts. Whether you are just starting out or you are already knee-deep in your latest collection, we have the course for you.