The life and work of Gabrielle Chanel has arrived at the NGV in classic twentieth century style
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20.01.2022

The life and work of Gabrielle Chanel has arrived at the NGV in classic twentieth century style

Words by Alice Ruby McDonald

The French elegance that took over the world from the one and only Coco Chanel

Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto is one of the most extensive and spectacular displays of twentieth century fashion the NGV has seen.

Curated by the Palais Galliera, Paris and presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, the exhibition features over 100 outfits as well as jewellery, accessories, cosmetics and perfumes.

I had the pleasure of strolling through the endless rooms of designs and was astounded by the depth of the collection as well as the condition and versatility of the designs. You know it’s good fashion when dresses from the 1930s look like something I’d like to wear today.

Chanel devoted her life to making women feel elegant and luxurious and her legacy is something that many designers can only dream of creating.

The exhibition starts off in the beginning of Chanel’s life – something that wasn’t short of hardship. Throughout the exhibit we can see the moments in her life that landed her life changing opportunities from the artists she interacted with to her own innovation and personal drive.

As described by the NGV, “Spanning nine sections, organized chronologically and then thematically, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto illustrates the spirit of freedom and defiance that characterised Chanel’s design language throughout the twentieth century.”

This exhibit truly displays the feminine elegance that will forever stand the test of time. Make a day out of it and explore all that this famous gallery has to offer. Overall this was a day out experience, the exhibit took me about an hour to wander through and I got to stop for coffee afterwards at the cafe in the NGV.

Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto is open till 25th April 10am to 5pm.

To book your tickets head to the NGV website here