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After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, the National Gallery of Victoria‘s annual NGV Gala returned on Saturday evening. A slew of guests donned their most stylish black tie attire to celebrate the launch of the gallery’s latest highly anticipated exhibit – ‘Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse’.
The collaboration between the NGV and Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) sees more than 120 garments and accessories from the late designer staged in the gallery, which also marks the most significant showing of Lee Alexander McQueen’s work in Australia to date.
The gallery’s soaring halls will now play host to his visionary work, highlighting many of McQueen’s most memorable (and era-defining) collections, offering a glimpse of his rarest pieces and paying homage to his undeniable impact on the world of fashion.
Guests at the NGV Gala were treated to a special preview ahead of the exhibition’s official opening the following day, where the public will be able to immerse themselves in the luxury house’s storied history and legacy as a bold, innovative force for fashion.
Ahead of the launch party – which is affectionately known as Melbourne’s answer to the Met Gala – the NGV’s black carpet was filled with some of Australia’s most stylish names, including Phoebe Tonkin, Georgia Fowler, Maddison Brown and Gabriella Brooks, and iconic Canadian supermodel Shalom Harlow, who all sparkled in Tiffany & Co. jewellery for the evening.
Also in attendance were Elsa Pataky, Victoria Lee, Adam Goodes, Nathan McGuire and Tom Derickx, who all wore evening finery from David Jones, and The Hon. Julie Bishop, who shone in a stunning black PatBo dress as a special guest of the department store.
Celebrated Australian model Charlee Fraser provided one of the most show-stopping looks of the night, donning an intricate marigold gown by Maara Collective designer Julie Shaw as a special project in partnership with the NGV’s Indigenous Fashion Commission.
Inside the Great Hall, guests were treated to a performance from Yolngu musician Baker Boy, with a surprise appearance from fellow artist G Flip.
Attendees enjoyed the celebrations late into the night, walking the gallery’s halls throughout the evening to view the exhibit and gain incredible insight into McQueen’s creative process.
The collaboration, which is now open, invites us all to soak up a retrospective of his most iconic work and marvel in a little fashion wondery after a challenging few years. Welcome back, NGV Gala – we missed you.
