Leather panelled skirt ensemble printed with
silver chrysanthemum flowers worn with matching jacket. Both
this and the knitted jacket ensemble below are from Bill Gibb's
first solo collection at the Oriental Club in London in 1972.
.jpg "Image: Bill Gibb outfit modelled on catwalk, knitted jacket ensemble")
Visitor comments:
"Loved the Bill Gibb, such a
lovely exhibition"
"Iain’s scrapbook is great. Just
as interesting as the Bill Gibb exhibition"
"We loved the exhibition, I have
loads of his outfits in my loft and this exhibition is so exciting
and brings back many memories for us!"
"The display has evoked so many
pleasant memories of the 1970’s"
Until 7 March 2010
On 17 October 2008 the Fashion Museum unveiled a display of
show-stopping ensembles by 1970s fashion designer Bill Gibb. These
have been especially chosen by Iain R Webb, author of a forthcoming
book Bill Gibb Fashion and Fantasy. The display at the
Fashion Museum coincided with the publication of the book.
The Fashion Museum has an important collection of wonderful
designs by Bill Gibb, a revered but, strangely, a little-recognized
British fashion designer. One of the most iconic pieces from the
museum collection is the hippie-inspired tartan, floral print and
Fair-Isle knit look chosen as Dress of the Year in 1970. This
much-loved ensemble will form the centre piece of the new
display.
Iain R Webb is a fashion journalist of international standing.
He was fashion editor of The Times and Elle
magazine, and writes today for a variety of newspapers and
magazines. He is also visiting Professor of Fashion at Central
Saint Martins, the Royal College of Art and London College of
Fashion. In the late 1970s he trained as a fashion designer at St
Martin’s School of Art (the same course as Bill Gibb); but his
formative years in fashion were spent as a boy sketching in the
galleries at the Museum of Costume. In recent years, Iain has
returned home to Bath and renewed his love of the museum and its
world class collection of contemporary and historical dress.
The Bill Gibb display at the Fashion Museum includes
approximately 20 ensembles, all carefully chosen by Iain and the
Fashion Museum to showcase the fashion genius of Bill Gibb.
The display continues until 7 March 2010.
Bill Gibb Fashion and Fantasy by Iain R Webb, published
by V&A Publications is available from Fashion Museum shop
View a press release here.