To celebrate its 50th birthday, Bath's Fashion Museum is showcasing 50 important designer dresses dating from 1660 through to the present day.
Dubbed the "greatest hits," the 50 Fabulous Frocks exhibition is two years in the making and carries pieces that "mark an iconic moment in fashion history," including creations by design legends Poiret, Vionnet, and Schiaparelli to modern day masters Ossie Clark, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, and Comme des Garcons.
Curator Rosemary Harden said: "A black and white ostrich feather and a rhinestone two-piece ensemble by Yves Saint Laurent that belonged to prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn is stunning, especially as she wore it to party with Rudolf Nureyev on the dance floor of a New York nightclub in the 1960s.
"Another highlight is a delicate cream silk net evening dress from the late 1820s embroidered all over with gold metallic strip ribbon, which highlights a change in the fashionable silhouette and at nearly 200 years old would still be a show-stopper on any red carpet today."
The exhibition opens on February 2, in the meantime, take a look at some of the stunning dresses in the gallery below...
Words: Anna Pollitt. Images: Bath Fashion Museum
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
A scarlet red and navy blue lace dress by Erdem, from autumn/winter 2009, is one of the stars of the exhibition.
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
This white cotton lace dress with moulded leather collar is Alexander McQueen, from the late designer's 1999 spring/summer collection.
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
This Bug jacket and dress by Schiaparelli dates back to 1938.
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
Behold a cream silk net ballgown, embroidered in gold metal strip, from the late 1820s.
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
This arresting tartan Satin Dress was worn by a fashion-conscious woman in the 1860s.
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
A jazzy gold lattice work and lace dress by Paul Poiret, 1925.
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
This high-necked cream and lavender summer dress has polka dots, bows and lace and was made by an unknown dressmaker in the early 1870s.
"A beautiful dress and beautifully made," Harden says.
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
An unusual Veuve Clicquot Champagne bottle dress...
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
As pictured on this unknown woman at a fancy dress party in 1902.
50 Fabulous Frocks Exhibition
An exquisite 17th century silver tissue dress - the oldest piece in the exhibition.
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