V&A launches collection with Coast

London’s Victoria and Albert Museum has teamed up with high street occasionwear specialist, Coast, on a capsule collection of ballgowns. Inspired by last year’s ‘Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950’ exhibition at the V&A, Coast was granted

access to the museums vast fashion archive to create the six limited edition ballgowns, which channel styles from the Thirties and Fifties.

Coast

and V&A brings ballgowns to the high street
The collection, which is on sale now, features both floor and knee-length styles, and each has a vintage feel about them, whether it is the Art Deco-inspired glamorous ‘Patience’ dress or the organza layers of the ‘Phoebe’ inspired by the debutante balls of the 1950s, this collection features exquisite detailing.

Other designs include the ‘Lottie’ inspired by architectural dress shapes of the 1950s couture houses, featuring a fully constructed bodice and a voluminous skirt, while the ‘Cecily’ that takes reference from the designs of Jean Charles Worth with its beaded fishtail hour-glass silhouette from the 1930s.

Commenting on the collaboration, Coast’s head of design Kim Elliot, said: "The V&A collection seemed like the perfect collaboration for both Coast and the V&A.

"Inspiration for this fabulous collection of dresses came from vintage dresses, beautiful and iconic fashion photography images and delving into the drawers of fashion history to recreate and bring to life this collection of contemporary ballgowns."

V&A business development and licensing director Lauren Sizeland added: "The designs truly reflect the allure of ballgowns and grand occasionwear evoking the glamour and splendour of their inspiration. These gowns will give the opportunity for customers to indulge in a little piece of fashion history."

The limited edition range is available in just four Coast stores globally as well as online, and prices range from 550 to 895 pounds.

Image: Coast – ‘Phoebe’ dress