Dior Transformed the V&A’s Lawn Into a Garden Idyll for the Museum’s Annual Summer Party
Dior Transformed the V&A's Lawn Into a Garden Idyll for the Museum’s Annual Summer Party
Yesterday’s incessant rain in London didn’t hinder this year’s V&A Summer Party one bit. Now in its fourth year, with 1,200 guests and a fabulous committee behind it (Maria Grazia Chiuri, Edward Enninful, and Mary McCartney, to name but a few), the great and the good flocked to South Kensington to enjoy an evening of British charm and delight. Hosted by the chairman of the V&A, Nicholas Coleridge, and Dr. Tristram Hunt, this year’s soirée was in partnership with Christian Dior—a natural fit given the success of the fashion house’s exciting exhibition at the museum.
Chatting to Coleridge before the party started, he informed me it was set to be the most visited exhibition ever, overtaking the Alexander McQueen show. With 600,000 visitors it has been such a “smash hit,” they have added five more weeks to its run, having completely sold out of tickets. Coleridge went on to thank his committee for bringing such an eclectic bunch out last night; there was a healthy mixture of guests from creatives to politicians, ceramicists to actors. It was a gaggle—and a good one.
The museum itself looked entrancing with its magnificent Madejski Garden transformed into Le Jardin Anglais, an homage to Monsieur Dior’s personal garden in Granville, France. A Dior-clad Lady Mary Charteris DJ’d in Le Temple de l’Amour within the garden’s pond where Joy Crookes would later perform.
As always, the outfits were glorious and efforts were made. Erin O’Connor and Sabine Getty looked ravishing in Dior and YSL (you wouldn’t have thought they had newborns at home). Mary McCartney was a vision in a gray lace frock, while Felicity Jones shone in Markarian. Joan Collins and Bianca Jagger rocked black ensembles, and British designer Emilia Wickstead looked serene in green.
The sun had suddenly set and I found myself with Arizona Muse and a giggling Charlotte Dellal by the pudding stand. It was time to tear myself away and get to bed, but what a lovely time we had. And what did I learn? Us Brits don’t need any sunshine to enjoy ourselves.
Originally Appeared on Vogue
