Icons of British Fashion Exhibition to be Held at Blenheim Palace

The Fashion Museum, Bath is loaning Jean Muir, John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood pieces as well as 29 iconic Rootstein mannequins to the Icons of British Fashion exhibition at Blenheim Palace – the biggest exhibition to date at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each year, the Fashion Museum invites a respected expert from the fashion industry to select a Dress of the Year that encapsulates the prevailing mood of fashion, represents the past year and captures the imagination. The outfit is then added to the Fashion Museum’s world-class collection of more than 100,000 objects.

Four pieces from the Dress of the Year Collection are being showcased at the Icons of British Fashion exhibition including:

• 1979’s black silk jersey dress, black tailored leather jacket and black beret by Jean Muir as well as black suede leather shoes by Manolo Blahnik for Zapata.
• The winner of Dress of the Year 1987; a black and white checked cotton pinafore dress and coat, worn with a dark brown cotton shirt, white cotton organdie collar and a brown felt ‘tilt’ hat by John Galliano, grey tights by Fogal, and brown suede shoes with elastic straps by Patrick Cox.
• The 1994 winning dress; a black silk bias-cut strapless evening dress with starburst decoration by John Galliano.
• 2010’s Dress of the Year; a pale green ribbed shot silk dress worn with clear plastic shoes, black plastic sunglasses and gold-coloured hoop earrings by Dame Vivienne Westwood.

In addition, several Jean Muir garments from the 1980s are on loan and featured including a black and white striped faux fur coat, black silk jersey blouse and purple silk wide leg trousers, blue knitted wool-mix dress with obi-style belt, and blue knitted wool dress.

Icons of British Fashion is being held at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, until 30th June with each room in the 300-year-old Palace paying homage to a British fashion icon, including; Barbour, Bruce Oldfield, Jean Muir, Lulu Guinness, Stella McCartney, Stephen Jones Millinery for Christian Dior, Temperley London, Terry de Havilland, Turnbull & Asser, Vivienne Westwood, and Zandra Rhodes. Blenheim Palace will also be celebrating its own icon of fashion, Sir Winston Churchill, during the exhibition which coincides with the 150th anniversary of his birth.

Kate Ballenger, Keeper of Palace & Collections at Blenheim Palace, said, “We’re already so privileged to collaborate with some of the world’s biggest and best names in fashion, so to be able to also partner with the Fashion Museum Bath on what’s been years in the making is honestly a dream. The pieces graciously being loaned to us at Blenheim Palace truly encapsulate what we’re trying to showcase and celebrate and are the cherry on top of this world-class exhibition.”

Rosemary Harden, Manager at Fashion Museum Bath, said, “The Fashion Museum Bath is honoured and delighted to be part of the Icons of British Fashion exhibition. Blenheim Palace has always been a centre of fashion in Britain from its stylish occupants and glamorous guests, to showcasing up to the minute catwalk fashions. We’re thrilled to be contributing to this fashion legacy by presenting some of our signature pieces from the Fashion Museum’s Dress of the Year collection and celebrating the creativity and talent of these legendary British designers.”

Admission to the Icons of British Fashion exhibition in 2024 is free with any valid Blenheim Palace ticket including Palace, Park and Gardens, Annual Pass or a Privilege Pass.