Walking into London’s Victoria and Albert Museum can be a bit overwhelming. Ornately decorated arches line the structure’s grandiose doors, making way to a domed atrium that branches off into marble corridors containing endless works of art. Such a powerful entryway has the ability to make one feel so small. Yet, on this specific day, not even the intimidating nature of such a historic landmark could deter me. I was on a mission. This mission bore the name: “Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion.”
Only those who know me best truly understand the passion I have for design, and the impact that it has had on my life. Growing up, I was always an avid dreamer, who let my creativity wander amongst the possibilities of the future. While my friends in school were outdoors, flirting with boys or braiding each other’s hair, I would stay in the art studio and sketch, fantasizing ideas for my own fashion line. I would politely decline after-school hangouts, much preferring to perfect my sewing skills for hours in my basement. Whereas most children would ask for new games or technology for their birthday, I would beg my mom to take me to the fabric store so I could get new material for my latest creations. Whether it be sewing dresses to wear to school dances, or sketching designs for gowns that I dreamt of creating, I was hooked on this love for fashion. However, in the past, I failed to see design as anything more than a menial hobby, and felt the pressures that corresponded with growing older. Consequently, as I entered my freshmen year of college, overwhelmed with new experiences, schedules, and people, I left my artistic passions behind, and tried to bury their existence in my past.
However, walking into the V&A museum on this specific chilly day in London, eager to see the display of late work from legendary designer Cristòbal Balenciaga, I was overwhelmed by the feelings that came back to me. I believe fashion has the ability to reveal so much about one’s culture, history, and character, and since I’ve been in London, I have recognized my passion once again, and understood the power of clothing to bring people together, tear people apart, or disclose things about individuals that dive below surface level assumptions. Fashion, and being able to fully explore its capabilities, have helped me to find myself, and to grow as an individual who isn’t afraid to take risks or push the limits of my dreams.
Upon entering the exhibition room, one gets an understanding of Balenciaga’s early days in fashion. The exhibit information emphasizes the Spanish influence, sculptural quality, clever manipulation of textiles, and vivid use of pigment and texture in his work. The dimly lit space and detailed mosaic floors gave the impression of antiquity and tradition, while still highlighting the delicate nature of the textiles on display. Upstairs, the detailed architecture of the V&A Museum was covered by crisp white paneling, sleek display cases, and pillars shielded with digital images, creating a modern oasis in contrast to the vintage environment downstairs.
Nevertheless, the real centerpiece of this experience was the emphasis on the process of making garments and its impact on someone like me, who appreciates the work that goes into sewing and design. Vintage pieces are shown alongside their x-ray counterparts from patternmaking, along with technical sketches, fabric swatches, and photographs of each piece worn by its original fit model. This gave me the impression of working alongside Balenciaga in his workshop, and the beauty that corresponds with viewing the development of clothing from conceptualization to reality. As I stood staring at exquisitely tailored vintage gowns, and remained astonished by the stages of Balenciaga’s work, I was inspired to continue with my efforts to make my fashion dreams a reality.
I never imagined that a place in the world could help me recognize so much about myself and my ambitions in life, yet being in London, and utilizing the city as an outlet for my creativity, has inspired me to not let my passion escape from my daily life. Since I visited this exhibit and analyzed the variety and quality of fabric, the importance of pattern-cutting, and the significance of tailoring, I have continued with the designs that brought me joy earlier in life. Many people diminish fashion as an art and see it as merely a materialistic commodity, yet there is so much to learn from clothing, and so much that it can reveal about oneself. The ability of such an exhibit’s curation to influence not only my thoughts but my actions, truly shows that fashion has the artistic ability to make one understand and contemplate the past, present, and future.
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| At the Museum |
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Margaret Joel is studying in London this semester as part of the English department's
"London Experience" program.
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