Years of glamour are on show at the National Gallery of Victoria’s current exhibition: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift. Here is a glimpse of the exclusive world of couture fashion, that traces its history and its impact from the 19thcentury until today. Soooooo romantic and sooooooo thoroughly gorgeous.

Fashion exhibition at NGV: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift featuring Yves Saint Laurent Image: GRACIE
The 150 garments by international fashion luminaries such as Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, Christian Lacroix, Alexander McQueen, Madame Grès, Charles Frederick Worth and more unite to bring this glamorous and glittering rarefied world right up close.
From Charles Frederick Worth

Fashion exhibition at NGV: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift Evening gown attributed to Jean-Philippe Worth c 1912 Image: GRACIE
to Christian Lacroix

Fashion exhibition at NGV: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift Christian Lacroix Image: GRACIE
to Yves Saint Laurent and beyond

Fashion exhibition at NGV: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift Yves Saint Laurent Image: GRACIE
On offer is an opportunity to appreciate the hours of artisan work and the breathtaking expertise that brought these creations into being. Experiencing their exquisite detail up close and personal is infinitely more wonderful than browsing still images or video.

Fashion exhibition at NGV: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift Cristobal Balenciaga Jacket c 1947 Image: GRACIE

Fashion exhibition at NGV: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift Yves Saint Laurent Image: GRACIE

Fashion exhibition at NGV: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift France Evening gown c 1918 silk (tulle), metallic thread, glass (beads) Image: GRACIE

Fashion exhibition at NGV: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift Evening gown attributed to Jean-Philippe Worth c 1912 silk (crepe, tulle, georgette, chiffon) glass (beads, diamanté) Image: GRACIE
For steadfast lovers of fashion, this is a wonderful opportunity to carefully observe the hand stitched structure of couture and marvel at the highly-skilled work of the couture staff (Les Petites Mains – ‘small hands’) that created these works.

Fashion exhibition at NGV: The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift Alexander McQueen Toile Image: GRACIE
It’s all about clothes and the imagination so take time out to revel in their beauty and fall in love with their style and fantasy.
The exhibition also includes original sketches and workbooks by the designers, fabric samples and fashion photography and various rare and early fashion magazines. We plan to bring you those in another edition. All the works have been generously purchased and gifted to the Gallery by Kyrstyna Campbell-Pretty in memory other late husband, Harold Campbell-Pretty.
Watch this short clip courtesy of the National Gallery of Victoria for a delightful insight:
Free entry
1 March 19 – 14 July 19
NGV International
NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA
180 ST KILDA ROAD MELBOURNE VIC 3004
T: +61 3 8620 2311
F: +61 3 8620 2555
Open 10am–5pm daily
Guided tour – Wed & Sun, 11.30am from Wed 6 Mar
Meet: Guides meeting point, Ground level
Read more