Harry Winston and V-and-A Hollywood exhibition

— Sathya Saran (click here to know more about this blogger)

Think of a film like 'Titanic' and while most remember the 'figurehead' scene of Leonardo and Kate on the ship, fashion lovers would remember the wonderful clothes Kate Winslet sported through the movie. And who can forget the bone crushing, wasp waisted dresses the Southern belle Scarlett O Hara wore in 'Gone With The Wind'?

Clothes make the movie as much as dialogues and storyline and often weave themselves into memory. Grace Kelly, for one, is best remembered for her sweeping skirts in the Hitchcock films 'Rear Window' and 'To Catch a Thief'. As is Sophia Loren for her clinging low cut dresses or Marilyn for the dress she sported in the now legendary shot of it flying up in quite a shocking manner for those times!

The Victoria and Albert Museum is celebrating just this aspect of Hollywood with an exhibition titled 'Hollywood Costume' to showcase almost one hundred of cinema's most iconic and unforgettable costumes... designed for characters who span a hundred years of cinema. Not surprisingly the event is sponsored by Harry Winston, jeweller to the stars, whose diamonds are almost as legendary as the stars who wear them. Keeping true to its elegant brand values, Harry Winston will showcase just one piece of fine jewellery at the event: a recreating of the necklace worn by Karen Patch in the 2003 film 'How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days'.

Visitors to the exhibition can expect to see classics like Dorothy's blue and white gingham pinafore dress designed by Adrian for 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939) and Scarlett O'Hara's green 'curtain' dress designed by Walter Plunkett for 'Gone With the Wind'. Keira Knightley's clothes in 'Atonement' (2007) and 'Anna Karenina' (2012) and Consolata Boyle's costume for Meryl Streep in 'The Iron Lady' (2011) are also part of the show as are costumes worn by Kate Winslet in 'Titanic', Robert De Niro in 'Taxi Driver', Helen Mirren in 'The Queen', Christian Bale in 'The Dark Knight Rises' and Daniel Craig as James Bond in 'Casino Royal'.

It is an exhibition The King of Diamonds (as Harry Winston was known) would have approved of. After all for him glamour included not just the priceless gems like the Hope diamond that he created history with or his innovative settings that are today the most sought after way to show off one's diamonds but the women who wore them and matched them to their beautiful clothes...

The exhibition is open from October 20 till Jan 27 2013. If you're in London, don't miss it!

'How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days'

20-OCTOBER-2012

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2 Comments

24 October 2012 Paro
Lovely piece!

20 October 2012 Malini Sengupta
As a stylist and costume designer in Bollywood, I really appreciate your blog and wish India would host such an exhibit. We have such a strong film legacy. Who can forget Rekha in Umrao Jaan?