Chanel 2023 Exhibition at the V&A / Fashion Manifesto

An exhibition celebrating the work of the fashion designer Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel is a must for all vintage dress lovers! In particularly because it is at the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum) - my favourite of all the museums.
What I hadn't expected is to see so many of the kind of 1930s dresses that I adore - floral prints, colourful corsages, fabulous details involving expert sewing techniques, bows, bias panels - everything a 30s dress lover could possibly wish for!
It was extremely crowded, most especially my favourite room of the early 1930s dresses. It seemed that it was everyone else' favourite room too. Understandably the largest room had been given over to the 60s boxy suits for which Chanel is so famous.
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Samantha x

[@bluejay5531]

Thank you so much Samantha!! what an amazing exhibit! I would so love to see it! I love Chanel! thank you for sharing! you are looking glam❤

[@Samanthalovestosew]

Thank you very much 💕 It was a treat! I had to buy V&A membership to go as tickets are already sold out, but it means I have reason to go again. There are some dresses I couldn’t get near! The catalogue is fab though. I’m doing a flip through next week - the V&A are good at showing close ups of the details (some impressive sewing!) too. 💗

[@jessicastorey1838]

What a fun outing! Thank you for sharing the exhibit with us. I do love Chanel.

[@Samanthalovestosew]

Oh you of all people would appreciate the beautifully stitched details. There were so many ideas for we dressmakers to borrow. Thank you for watching! 💗🎀

[@KellyfromMemphis]

Those 1930s dresses were so wonderful! And actually EXCITING! 😍

[@Samanthalovestosew]

I’m pleased it’s not just me who thought they were exciting! Actually it was by far the most crowded room of the exhibition. So we’re not alone! Thank you for your encouragement 💗

[@Mrs.vintage.home.uk.]

Absolutely lovely thank you for taking us along

[@Samanthalovestosew]

I’m so pleased you enjoyed it (without being squashed in the crowd … though it was a crowd of very genteel ladies so no pushing or shoving!!) and thank you for watching! 🎀

[@lenorerhodes8110]

What a fabulous exhibition Samantha. Thank you for sharing. ❤️❤️❤️❤️🌺

[@Samanthalovestosew]

It really was a treat Lenore 💕 I came back from it absolutely bubbling with Chanel-inspired ideas for dresses. Mind you things will need to be simplified, both in terms of the making and the fact that I don’t go out to anywhere smart very often! 💗🎀🌸xx

[@laurazeman]

So many beautiful dresses! 😍 That 1935 evening gown with the flowers is absolutely gorgeous ❤🌺 Thank you so much for sharing. We don't get exhibits like that where I live, so I greatly appreciate this video. Looking forward to seeing part 2. 😊

[@Samanthalovestosew]

I love that one too! Some of those colourful floral print dresses were a (very nice) surprise to me from Chanel. I hadn’t planned on a part 2 until I noticed my video was 40 minutes long! 😂 Hopefully some people will manage Chanel round 2! There’ll be a few unseen dresses and a closer look at the details. Thank you so much for watching! 💗🎀

[@killerkitschvintagelizzie]

Thank you for sharing! Everything was stunning! I want to recreate all of the 1930s frocks!

[@Samanthalovestosew]

Oooh yes, me too! I hadn’t realised Chanel created all those delightful 30s frocks! 💗🎀

[@LostinTimeWithKatie]

That was so fun to be able to tag along with you and see these fabulous outfits! I loved the 30’s dresses in particular. That silk organza with the flowers was so stunning wow. 😍

[@Samanthalovestosew]

Thank you so much for watching Katie! 💕 I loved the 30s dresses best too！Unfortunately I couldn’t get close enough to some of them to film because they’d put those summer chiffon dresses in the smallest room not anticipating that they would be the crowd’s favourites. But I’m going to go back again over Christmas when London is always quieter 💗🎀

[@joiedevivre2005]

Stunning! Thank you for sharing! I've only recently discovered your channel & i'm so glad I did!

[@Samanthalovestosew]

I’m so pleased you discovered my channel! I really appreciate you risking your precious time on an unknown. And taking the time to comment and let me know too! 🌸

[@iansaunders6983]

Thank you for sharing your visit. It looked spectacular. Your excitement and passion was infectious. I am glad you were my guide. I can definately see you as a beautiful swan or an exotic bird.

[@Samanthalovestosew]

Thank you very much Ian for venturing around the V&A with me! It’s my favourite museum and that, combined with discovering those wonderful Chanel dresses from the 30s, is my idea of heaven! I think if I wore one of those amazing fluffy feathery capes the dogs would have a field day!

[@rowanhughes8682]

Good lord 😲 the display is incredible! So inspired 🌟 🌈 🌟 it's a work of art in itself, just breathtaking!! Pity about the crowds cluttering it up 🤭 Oh to drift around when it's all quiet and empty and absorb all the Chanel elegance and colour and detail....a dream 💭💭💭

[@Samanthalovestosew]

I know! And how could I film with Other People cluttering up my space?! 😆 Actually I’ve never seen so many genteel ladies in their prime (like us!) crowded into one place. I didn’t even know there were so many. Obviously Chanel provided a beacon! I have to hand it to the V&A the exhibition was a work of art in itself. And the catalogue is wonderful too. I’m planning to go again on a day like Christmas Eve when everyone else (except me 😹) has something else to do! Thank you for watching! 💗🎀

[@rowanhughes8682]

@@Samanthalovestosew You were clearly in the best of company 😌 all oo-ing and ah-ing and wearing No.5 Looking forward to seeing the exhibition brochure 💫🖤💫

[@ariettasvintagelife]

What a fantastic exhibition and you were the perfect companion and guide, for us that cannot go... I was really impressed with the early era dresses and that 30's dress with the cutout flowers was gorgeous! And of course we thank Chanel for bringing tweed in our lives and making it fashionable to wear a suit out of tweed! I loved watching this Samantha, thank you for sharing! ❤❤

[@Samanthalovestosew]

Thank you so much Arietta 💕 It was a glorious exhibition and I’m looking forward to visiting again when I’m not worried about filming in between people’s heads! There were so many ideas for us dressmakers, especially in the details (that’s to come next week!) 💗🎀

[@ariettasvintagelife]

Oh I was thinking the exact same thing! But I would love to be able to examine the clothes a bit closer and even on the inside. I understand though why it is not possible... @@Samanthalovestosew

[@talitasmit9337]

❤

[@Samanthalovestosew]

🥰🥰🥰

[@patternpouchnest9529]

Gday Samantha. Wow, this was wonderful & look at all those enchanting & exquisite garments 🤩They really did do a good job on displaying everything so elegantly 🤩 Thanku 'sew' much for taking us all along & for sharing 🪡✂🧵👗XX

[@Samanthalovestosew]

Thank you very much Ana 💕 I adore the V&A. The crowd was quite something. It was literally hard to move (let alone film! 😂) However the crowd was made of very well mannered genteel ladies (like us!) so there was no pushing and shoving, just perfect good manners! And lots of dressmaking ideas to borrow from Chanel, which I’ll be sharing next week 💗🎀xx

[@patternpouchnest9529]

@@Samanthalovestosew Haya. That is good, it pus me off things when some people are pushy & or get in the way & simply do not move. The footage you got was great & yes about all the ideas 🤩Have a lovely week 🤗🥀xx

[@Samanthalovestosew]

@@patternpouchnest9529 You too Ana! 😁😘xx

[@morriganwitch]

You look very perky xxx looks fab xxx

[@Samanthalovestosew]

Thank you very much. Shall we say I wasn’t the only one there!! But I did my best to film in between everyone’s heads! Xxx

[@morriganwitch]

@@Samanthalovestosew my friend has been to see it . Rather good she says xxx

[@Samanthalovestosew]

@@morriganwitchIt’s really big and lots in it (though rather a gap 40s-50s wise … it leaps from the 30s to the 60s with not much in between. Though I’m not complaining. I loved it.) xxx

[@morriganwitch]

@@Samanthalovestosew I wonder why ? Interesting War years might explain something xxx

[@Samanthalovestosew]

@@morriganwitchYes, that must be right - that’s the gap! Perhaps the catalogue will explain xxx

[@lisascenic]

The black sequined ensemble is classic to the point that if I had to chose between two options I’d be more likely to believe that Liza Minnelli wore it in the 1970s, than that it was made in the 1930s.

[@Samanthalovestosew]

Yes, Liza Minnelli! Perhaps in Cabaret. I hadn’t thought before but so true.

[@lisascenic]

@@Samanthalovestosew 1970s fashion designers and filmmakers were definitely looking back to the 1930s. Bonnie and Clyde, The Sting, Chinatown, and Paper Moon come to mind, and I know I’m forgetting a lot of other examples.

[@Samanthalovestosew]

@@lisascenic I rather like 1970s does 1930s fashions. I want to watch all those films you’ve mentioned now!