Ballgowns at the V&A

From spring 2012 the Victoria & Albert Museum in London celebrates the opening of the newly renovated Fashion galleries with an exhibition of beautiful ballgowns, red carpet evening dresses and catwalk couture. Displayed over two floors, Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 will feature more than sixty dresses designed for royal balls, state occasions and red carpet premieres. Giles Deacon, Spring–Summer 2007. Photographer: Tim Walker. Model: Coco Rocha The exhibition will celebrate over sixty years of a strong British design tradition that continues to flourish today. Eveningwear from the V&A's vast collection, by designers including Victor Stiebel, Zandra Rhodes, Jonathan Saunders and Hussein Chalayan, will be displayed alongside dresses fresh from this season's catwalk shows of Alexander McQueen, Giles Deacon, Erdem and Jenny Packham. A selection of royal ballgowns will be on display too including a Norman Hartnell gown designed for Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Diana's ‘Elvis Dress' designed by Catherine Walker (now there's an LBD and a half!) and gowns worn by today's young royals. Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 will also include dresses worn by celebrities including Elizabeth Hurley and Sandra Bullock, and a stunning metallic leather dress created especially for the exhibition by innovative designer Gareth Pugh. Erdem AW 2008. Photograph © David Hughes Tickets are ¬£10 per person and can be bought online. Or you can bag yourself a pair of tickets to Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 for FREE courtesy of Team LBD. Simply head over to our Twitter page and retweet the V&A ball gowns message here. If you've been left in the mood to buy a red carpet worthy frock or beautiful ball gown check out our selection of gorgeous evening dresses here.