The Lightoom, located in Coal Drops Yard, is an exciting new space which features immersive exhibitions and offers visitors new ways to engage with art. David Hockney’s show last year, was a groundbreaking sound and vision presentation, which brought together the life and oeuvre of today’s most famous artist.

With VOGUE: Inventing the Runway, running until 26th April 2025, Lightroom turns to fashion to explore the origins of fashion presentations. The visual show traces the history and conceptual frameworks of the runway show, from the exclusive couture salons of the early 20th century to today’s unforgettable social-media friendly spectacles. And it’s amazing!

“At Vogue we’ve been lucky enough over the decades to see many incredible runway shows, which have often told the story of fashion as much as the clothes themselves. This Lightroom experience is a wonderful opportunity for a lot more people to experience first hand the thrill of watching the history of fashion unfold right in front of them.” Anna Wintour, Chief Content Officer, Condé Nast, and Global Editorial Director, Vogue.

With visuals and insights from shows by Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Margiella, Schiaparelli, Alexander McQueen, and more, VOGUE: Inventing the Runway also pays tribute to the rich archives of the world’s leading fashion magazine. Most of these designers graduated from Central Saint Martins, conveniently located a few metres only from Lightroom.

Today, fashion shows are global spectacles that seamlessly blend art, technology, and celebrity. Set within Lightroom’s expansive four-storey walls, presented as a 360-degree canvas, visitors can fully immerse themselves in designers’ visions, engaging with them in innovative and unprecedented ways.

Cate Blanchett serves as the distinguished narrator of this awe-inspiring exhibition, which highlights the growing influence of bloggers and influencers, the initial exclusion of journalists from early presentations like Balenciaga’s, and the role of innovative staging in propelling garments globally through powerful marketing efforts. Karl Lagerfeld’s recreation of the Ariane rocket, this time emblazoned with the Chanel logo, remains one of the most breathtaking fashion shows of all time!

With personal testimonies and a diverse range of media, Inventing the Runway explores how fashion shows became the ultimate representation of a designer’s vision – at times, a living reflection of their identity – reinvented season after season. It honours the creativity, dedication, and passion that have reshaped the way we engage with fashion. Some highlights include Alexander McQueen’s hauntingly beautiful visions for his shows, John Galliano’s inspiration drawn from opera and the Années Folles, and Tom Ford’s intimate, salon-inspired debut show, exclusively featuring celebrities like Beyoncé and Marisa Berenson.

This year, British Vogue will also host panel discussions, a must-attend series of talks featuring designers, creative directors, and influential figures from the fashion and creative industries. The series kicks off on 14 January with a conversation between British Fashion Council’s Womenswear Designer of the Year, Simone Rocha, and British Vogue’s Fashion Features Director, Julia Hobbs.

Following this, join Seán McGirr, Creative Director of McQueen, on 28 January, and Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer, Daniel Lee, who will take the Lightroom stage on 4 February. On 11 February, the spotlight will be on Italian fashion icon Pierpaolo Piccioli, followed by Andreas Kronthaler, Creative Director of Vivienne Westwood, on 25 February. The series will conclude with menswear designer Martine Rose, founder of her eponymous label, on 18 March.

Don’t miss this incredible programme and this mindblowing show!

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