As the city's biggest brands returned to the runway for the spring/summer 2024 season, this London Fashion Week was arguably one of the most accessible yet, with many emerging designers including Priya Ahluwalia, Kyle Ho, and Abigail Ajobi opting for digital showcases, short films, and livestreams, all of which were open to the public.
Even with the fashion fleet now moving on to Milan and Paris, there are still plenty of exhibits and events based in the capital and beyond with which to fill your well-heeled boots. Here are ELLE's can't-miss favourites.
What To Do Post-London Fashion Week
The Missing Thread
The newest offering from Somerset House's 3-year partnership with Morgan Stanley, is a celebration of Black British fashion, chronicling the shifting social landscape across 50 years as well as the important contribution Black British culture has had on Britain’s design history. The Missing Thread aims to examine how culture, politics, and socio-economics shaped Black style – and, in turn, mainstream fashion.
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When? 21 September 2023–17 January 2024
Where? Somerset House (Strand, London WC2R 1LA)
Tickets: £12/£9.50 conc, 25 and under £5.00
Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto
This blockbuster fashion exhibit is surprisingly the first show in Britain dedicated to the life and work of Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, since the brand launched in 1910. First showcased in Paris in 2020, the exhibition covers more than six decades of Chanel's work, with more than 180 outfits on display. Pieces include clothes made for the British model Anne Gunning, as well as for Marlene Dietrich and Lauren Bacall.
When? 16 September 2023–25 February 2024
Where? The V&A (Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL)
Tickets: £24, with concessions available
Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style
From the coat Diana, Princess of Wales wore while announcing her pregnancy with Prince William to an Alexon tweed coat worn by beloved EastEnders character Dot Cotton, the Museum of London Docklands' exhibition is a celebration of Jewish people’s contribution to the capital's fashion scene. Based in London’s East End, where many Jewish migrants arrived from the late 19th to early 20th century, the exhibition will detail fashion across the city to the West End’s boutiques and couture salons.
When? 13 October 2023–14 April 2024
Where? Museum of London Docklands (No 1, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, London E14 4AL)
Tickets: £12/ £13, with concessions available
REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion
Running from mid-September 2023 through to early 2024, and sponsored by Alexander McQueen, Rebel: 30 Years of London Fashion marks the 30th anniversary of the BFC’s NewGen program, which supports the UK’s emerging fashion talent. The show will feature nearly 100 innovative fashion looks from ground-breaking debut and early collections, many of which have entered pop culture history. Notable inclusions to the exhibit are the swan dress worn by Björk at the 2001 Oscars, Harry Styles’ Steven Stokey-Daley outfit from his video for Golden, and a unique replica of Sam Smith’s inflatable latex suit by Harri from this year’s Brit Awards.
When? 16 September 2023–11 February 2024
Where? Design Museum (224–238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG)
Tickets: £16.33/£12.24 £16.33/£12.24 with concessions available
Gucci COSMOS
After a successful debut in Shanghai in April, Londoners will now also be granted a look at Gucci's most iconic and forward-thinking designs from its 102-year-long history. Curated by British artist and stage designer Es Devlin, the immersive installation will showcase and celebrate the house’s fashion via a retrospective exploration of the brand's archives as this exhibit has been shipped from Shanghai, where it last held residency – with adaptations to resonate with each city in which it lands - fashion history buffs only have until December to see the installation, so be sure to snag your tickets soon.
When? 11 October–31 December 2023
Where? 180 Studios (180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA)
Tickets: TBC
DIVA
From Tina Turner to Billie Holiday, DIVA is a fantastical ode to the songstresses and musicians whose voices have made our hearts swell and wowed us with their imitable style.
When? Until 7 April 2024
Where? The V&A (Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL)
Tickets: £20
Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians
Featuring over 200 works from the Royal Collections, including paintings, prints, and drawings by artists such as Gainsborough, Zoffany, and Hogarth, alongside rare surviving clothing and accessories, Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians provides a unique view into Georgian life.
When? 21 April–8 October 2023
Where? Queen’s Gallery (Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA)
Tickets: £17.00/ £11, with concessions available
Designed For Life
The exhibition will explore how fashion can be a force for positive social change. Designed for Life is London College of Fashion’s first exhibition at its new home by the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and it's a continuation of the college's commitment to championing ideas for a sustainable future. The exhibition includes pieces like the first ceremonial coat created for the high sheriff of Greater London.
When? 2 October 2023–19 January 2024
Where? London College of Fashion – Olympic Park (105 Carpenters Road, London E15 2JE)
Tickets: Free
Crown To Couture
This brand new fashion exhibition features over 200 items all fascinating parallels between the world of today’s red carpet and the the 18th century Georgian Royal Court. Expect an up-close look at pieces like Beyoncé's look for the 2017 Grammy Awards, designed by Peter Dundas, and the custom Moschino chandelier-inspired outfit designed for Katy Perry and worn at the 2019 Met Gala. If that wasn't enough to intrigue you, Billy Porter’s "Sun God" outfit, styled by Sam Ratelle and designed by The Blonds for the 2019 Met Gala, and Kendall Jenner’s shimmering Hepburn-inspired Givenchy dress worn to the 2021 event are also up for view.
When? Until 29 October 2023
Where? Pigott Galleries, King's State Apartments, Queen's State Apartments (Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA)
Tickets: £25.40/ Members go free
Unpicking Couture
This exhibition celebrates pioneering creativity and design with pieces from groundbreaking moments in fashion and includes works by Christian Dior, Azzedine Alaïa, Cristobal Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, Vivienne Westwood, Yohji Yamamoto, Bruce Oldfield, and Alexander McQueen. The exhibition boasts the recent restoration of a 1930s silk velvet jacket by Italian couturier Elsa Schiaparelli.
It also touches on the links between fashion and emotions, think dopamine dressing, a kaleidoscope of colours, and how restoration and care help us to value our wardrobes.
When? Until January 12, 2025
Where? Manchester Art Gallery (Mosley St, Manchester M2 3JL)
Tickets: £17.00/ £11, with concessions available
British Music Experience
Housed in the former Cunard first-class passenger terminal and situated on Liverpool’s Pier Head, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the British Music Experience is a hub for British music fashion history. Featuring 600 stage outfits, instruments and artifacts, including outfits worn by artists from Freddie Mercury and Dusty Springfield, to the Spice Girls it's a must-visit for pop culture buffs.
When? Permanent
Where? British Music Experience, Cunard Building (LiverpoolL3 1DS, L3 1DS)
Tickets: £17.00/ with concessions available
SARGENT AND FASHION
This exhibition champions John Singer Sargent’s acclaimed works, highlighting the artist's unique viewpoint. Expect an in-depth look into Sargent's use of fashion as a tool to depict identity, and personality alongside his input to the styling of the outfits of his collaborators.
This innovative use of costume was central to his artwork – from more daring choices like tugging a heavy coat tighter around a man to emphasise his figure or gently letting a dress strap sensuously slip from a woman’s shoulder, the relationship between his sartorial choices and vision as an artist is evident across the exhibit.
When? Until July 7, 2024
Where? Tate Britain (Millbank, London SW1P 4RG)
Tickets: £20/ free for member, with concessions available
Swarovski's 'Masters of Light' Exhibition
The exhibition unites gemstone-laden pieces from revered designers, including Alexander McQueen, Armani Privé, Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Guo Pei, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Robert Wun, Thierry Mugler and Vivienne Westwood. Additionally, the exhibition houses a number of famous Swarovski-clad stage costumes and red-carpet looks, including those worn by Harry Styles, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera and Marilyn Monroe, that will be presented to the public for the first time.
When? Until October 9th
Where? Museum of Contemporary Art in Shanghai (231 Nanjing Rd (W), People's Square, Huangpu, Shanghai, China, 200003)
