Cloak & Dagger Couture

From Edward Molyneux to Hardy Amies and Catherine Dior, the world of high fashion contains a secret history of espionage. The golden age of 20th century couture also coincided with two world wars — and the discreet atmosphere of fashion houses provided a perfect cover for intelligence agents, hidden from prying eyes.

At the same time, the frequent travel of designers such as Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, even during the Nazi Occupation of Paris, provided opportunities to engage in covert activities, as they slipped across continental borders. In the words of the late Queen Elizabeth II (who was as well-versed in statecraft as she was in sartorial codes): ‘Of course, it was the perfect cover for a spy, to be a couturier’.

Join Justine Picardie, author Fashioning the Crown as well as biographies of Gabrielle Chanel and Catherine Dior, in conversation with V&A Senior Curator of Fashion Oriole Cullen as for a fascinating look at some of the most fashionable characters in World-War-era espionage.