Curated by the Pais Galliera, Paris and presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, this exhibition includes over 100 outfits as well as jewellery, accessories, cosmetics, and perfumes.
Several of the main designs were taken from the Palais Galliera and the Patrimoine de CHANEL collection, the heritage collections of the Paris fashion house.
Gabrielle Chanel's pieces are showcased alongside works from public museums, including the NGV, and private collections, giving visitors the rare opportunity to view the full range of her work throughout her career.
Chanel created, refined, and popularised a new type of feminine elegance based on modern women in her lifetime, rewriting fashion conventions through her innovative ideas, pioneering approaches to fabric, tailoring, and the utmost consideration of the female form, transforming women's wardrobes. Her designs became a template for modern living because they were based on comfort, streamlined simplicity, and easy movement.
Stunningly beautiful, the exhibition charts the evolution of the Chanel look, which the designer herself best exemplified. The exhibition explores her work's distinctive characteristics, aesthetics, and legacy.
There is no doubt that Melbournians will embrace the extraordinary works of Gabrielle Chanel, whose defiant spirit remains as iconic as her designs.
Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto opens December 4, 10am-5pm. Buy tickets here.
Photography Credits: Becca Crawford, Broadsheet & NGV