I've just visited the exhibition called "1997 Fashion Big Bang"at the Palais Galliera in Paris (till 16th July 2023).

1997  proved to be one of the most important years in fashion history. It is considered a watershed year in the history of contemporary fashion. The exhibition explores the designers, dates, and dramatic events that still shape fashion today.

The exhibition is curated by Alexandre Samson and brings together some of the most monumental garments and collections of this era. The exhibition features over 50 silhouettes from the collections of the Palais Galliera, museums, private collectors, and fashion houses, presented chronologically. It showcases works of major designers like Alexander McQueen, Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, Helmut Lang, Comme des Garçons.

If you compare the year 1946 with the year 1996- you see that the number of fashion houses drops from 200 to 15! John Galliano is named the new creative director at Christian Dior and Alexander Mc Queen at Givenchy.1997 is the year where fashion becomes a great spectacle and is greatly mediatised making Paris the fashion centre once again.

Can you recognise the designers?

Merce Cunningham, the American choreographer saw Rea Kawakubo's ( Comme des Garçons) collection and asked for some costumes to be created for his new ballet. Dancers moved differently whilst wearing these pieces.

Gianni Versace became one of the trendsetters of the 80's and the use of chain mail became one of his signatures.

John Galliano reinvents Christian Dior's "tailleur bar" from 1947. It's his first Haute  Couture collection for the brand and it is a very much anticipated event.

Alexander Mc Queen is only 27 when he comes to Givenchy. For his first collection he takes the logo with the G, it reminds him of friezes and he therefore takes his inspiration from Ancient Greece.

Jean Paul Gaultier creates the costumes for the Luc Besson film "les cinq elements", the first time a French film topped the American box office.

1997 is also the year where two fashion icons Gianni Versace and Princess Diana are killed.