Ralph & Russo at the V & A

For a stellar instalment of their Fashion in Motion series, the V & A have secured the revered British couturiers Ralph & Russo for a one-off free event taking place on the 17th October 2014.

Known for their opulent, exquisitely detailed gowns and championing Haute Couture in its purest form, the Australian born duo comprising creative director Tamara Ralph and CEO Michael Russo will host four catwalk shows at the V & A featuring highlights from the label’s evening wear collections. 

The founders recently received the envied accolade of an invitation from France's Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, and are the only British label to present at the official Paris Haute Couture Week, alongside the likes of Chanel, Dior and Valentino. The Chambre Syndicale’s former president, Didier Grumbach was quoted as saying 'We expect savoir faire, which is being lost, and they Ralph & Russo have it'. And since its establishment in 2007, the brand has done more than enough to deserve Didier's endorsement; maintaining an exceptional standard of expertise, all Ralph & Russo gowns are created within their London atelier by their own highly-skilled couturiers, who often spend hundreds of hours in a team of up to twenty artisans to complete each handcrafted creation.

Expect to see elegant, luxurious and timeless pieces as the V & A presents this oeuvre against the backdrop of their grand Raphael Gallery, with a sensational and painstakingly embroidered silk organza wedding dress finale (expertly timed to coincide with the V & A's blockbuster Wedding Dresses exhibition, running during October). Requiring 3,900 hours of work and featuring 40 different types of bead and 25 different types of Swarovski crystal, this martial masterpiece will no doubt be quite the showstopper.

Now in its 15th year, the Fashion in Motion programme aims to bring fashion to a wider public audience by staging accessible catwalk shows with some of the world's renowned designers, so far including Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and Christian Lacroix.

And providing insight into the influences behind Ralph & Russo's spectacular garments, this event will no doubt be a popular one - and although it is free, tickets are very limited so booking is essential.