The Fashion and Textile Museum in London is hosting an exhibition called "The Glamour of Bellville Sassoon," tracing the 50-year history of Bellville Sassoon, a leading British high fashion brand, until January 11th.

The museum is located on Bermondsey Street, an area that has been home to tanning, woolen goods, and other fashion industries since Roman times. Founded by British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, the museum has held special exhibitions focusing on contemporary British fashion, textiles, and jewelry. This year marks the 10th anniversary of its opening.

Belville Sassoon was founded in London in 1953 by Belinda Bellville and designer David Sassoon. As an haute couture brand for young women in high society, the brand focused on dresses for special occasions such as balls, salons, and weddings. Its clientele included members of British royalty, including the late Princess Diana and Princess Anne.

The main room of this exhibition displays over 100 designs and 80 dresses in chronological order. From ethnic styles in the 1960s to Victorian and Edwardian styles in the early 1970s, visitors can learn about the brand's history as a leader in British fashion, anticipating the trends of the times.

Next, we focus on the works of Irish designer Lorcan Mullany, who took over as the brand's designer in the 1980s. With the launch of ready-to-wear clothing in the 1990s, the sale of "Vogue Patterns," a pattern set in collaboration with Vogue magazine, and the production of simple cocktail dresses, we can see how the brand has expanded its business to cater to a wider range of customers and occasions.

In one room dedicated to royal exhibits, in addition to dresses and design drawings, there is also a handwritten letter from the late Princess Diana to Sassoon. She is said to have been provided with more than 70 designs over a 12-year period.

Paperbacks beloved by fashionable British women of the time are also displayed in various locations, and titles and illustrations such as "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Go-Between" allow you to observe the changing tastes of women.


[Event Information]
The Glamour of Bellville Sassoon
Venue: Fashion and Textile Museum
Address: 83 Bermondsey Street, London
Dates: Until January 11, 2014
Hours: 11:00 - 18:00 (last entry at 17:15)
Closed: Sundays and Mondays
Admission: 8 GBP