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6 Museums for the Fashion Obsessed

From Gucci’s trademark eclecticism at Palazzo della Mercanzia, Florence to the annual megawatt exhibit at New York’s The Met, fashion lovers and the aesthetically curious will find sartorial satisfaction at this chic clique of museums for the fashion obsessed. 

Updated Aug 2019.

Gucci Garden, Florence

Step aside Leo, we all know who’s the real master artist of this town. From humble beginnings in 1921 to the catwalk cred of recent years, Gucci’s nine-decade career and archive is celeb-rated in this repurposed C.14th palazzo flashing everything from signature monogrammed merch and patent loafers, to Alessandro Michele’s freshly stitched looks. Hungry? Michy-spangled chef Massimo Bottura’s Gucci Osteria is a handy pitstop for refuelling. 

Palazzo della Mercanzia10 Piazza della Signoria, Centro, Florence. +39 055 7592 7010, gucci.com

Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Touting the world’s largest permie collection of garb, spanning the reign of King James to Lee McQueen, plus rotating exhibitions, catwalks, and monthly late-night soirées that put a Lagerfeld show to shame, The V&A draws stylistas around the globe with its inspiring showcase of design and fashion. Diehard fans can still snag on-the-day tickets to this year’s blockbuster Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams (until 1 Sep); opening next month is fashion shutterbug Tim Walker: Wonderful Things (21 Sep). 

Cromwell Rd, London, SW7. +44 20 7942 2000 , vam.ac.uk

Simone Handbag Museum, Seoul

Only in Gangnam would you find a ten-storey hoop handle carry-all… And what’s in the bag? Why a covetable display of sacs à main, of course! The hoard of historic and contemporary handbags ranges from WWII gas mask purses to Wallis Simpson’s bespoke LV case and ltd ed designer satchels. Naturally, there are also two tote-ally spectacular shops to handle your inevitable post-browse buying spree.

17 Dosan-Daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. +822 3444 0912, simonehandbagmuseum.co.kr

Anna Wintour Costume Centre at The Met, New York

You’ve ogled the pics from ‘fashion’s biggest night out’, the Met Gala, now visit the related show in Anna Wintour’s dedicated wing of the Fifth Ave cultural giant. This year’s mega-exhibit, Camp: Notes on Fashion, brings together 250 items, spanning fashion, ceramics and multi-media from C.17th to the present-day, framed by powder pink walls, but natch. Runs through to 8 Sep.

1000 Fifth Ave, Upper East Side, New York. +1 212 535 7710, metmuseum.org

Musée Yves Saint Laurent, Paris

Occupying the former couture house in an elegant Second Empire mansion, this homage to YSL chronicles the designer’s career-spanning relationship with Pierre Bergé and showcases dresses, accessories, costume sketches, video installations and much, much more. Post peruse, hotfoot it over to Monsieur Bleu where you can expect eye-candy a-go-go: from the beautiful people to the viewtiful scenery and sophisty fare. 

5 ave Marceau, 8th arr, Paris. +33  1 44 31 64 00, museeyslparis.com

Tassenmuseum, Amsterdam

Imelda had shoes, Hendrikje Ivo has bags. Since first acquiring a C.19th tortoiseshell purse 30 years ago, she has amassed 4,000+ rare, antique and big-name arm-candy items from C.15th to today. The canal house showcase space also has a tea salon where you can cry into your Earl Grey ‘cause that alligator Hermès ain’t for sale. There there…Herengracht 573, Canal Ring, Amsterdam. +31 20 524 6452, tassenmuseum.nl


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