• Dominique Sirop with the prized collection.
    Dominique Sirop with the prized collection.
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The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has announced the acquisition of one of the world’s most sought-after fashion collections.

The collection includes the most significant French haute couture ever to be acquired by an Australian museum.

It features works from Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Vionnet and Jeanne Lanvin.

It also includes a fashion research archive of rare workbooks and photography by Yves Saint Laurent and Madame Grès.

Developed over several decades by Parisian collector and former Givenchy couturier Dominique Sirop, the collection is valued at $1.4 million.

It was purchased and donated to the NGV by board member Krystyna Campbell-Pretty, in memory of Harold Campbell-Pretty.

The 130 works represent more than thirty different fashion designers from 1800-2003.

It includes 11 gowns by Christian Dior, including a highly-prized couture dress from his first ever collection.

Other highlights include 12 works designed by Coco Chanel, including rare 1920s-era gowns and draped Grecian-style sheaths by Madame Grès.

NGV director Tony Ellwood thanked Campbell-Pretty for the donation. 

"We are deeply grateful to Krystyna Campbell-Pretty for her extraordinary generosity and ongoing support of the NGV Collection.

"As the largest acquisition of French haute couture in the NGV’s history, this donation further cements the NGV’s Fashion and Textiles Collection as the most significant fashion collection in Australia."

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