Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell Return to Centre Stage
If you fancy a proper dose of Swinging London this autumn, get yourself down to Bermondsey.

The Fashion and Textile Museum is staging what promises to be one of the biggest fashion exhibitions of the year, celebrating the extraordinary partnership of Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell. Running from 2 October 2026 until 27 April 2027, it's a rare chance to see the work of two people who helped redefine British fashion.

Now, anyone who knows anything about the late sixties and early seventies already knows these two weren't just designers.

They were a creative force.

Ossie was the master cutter, a genius who understood exactly how fabric should move with the body. His flowing bias-cut dresses, razor-sharp tailoring and sensual silhouettes changed the way women dressed.

Celia brought the colour.

Her whimsical prints—whether delicate florals, paisleys or bold Art Deco-inspired designs—gave Ossie's clothes their unmistakable identity. Together they created a look that became synonymous with the glamour and freedom of the era.

From Twiggy to Marianne Faithfull, Mick Jagger to Bill Wyman, everyone wanted a piece of what they were creating.

More Than 120 Garments on Display
The exhibition will feature over 120 garments, combining pieces from a major private collection with loans from Celia Birtwell herself.

Much of the show focuses on their golden years at the legendary Quorum boutique, where some of Britain's most iconic fashion was born.

Among the highlights are the celebrated 1968 Lamborghini jacket, cut in satin and finished in Celia's striking Chinoiserie print, along with the breathtaking Ziggy Stardust dress—a spiralling masterpiece of powder-blue chiffon that perfectly captures Ossie's remarkable understanding of movement and cut.

Visitors will also get to see Celia's own Ophelia wedding dress, combining two of her signature prints in a design that still looks daring nearly sixty years later.

Beyond Quorum
What makes this exhibition particularly interesting is that it doesn't stop when their partnership ended.

The upstairs galleries explore both designers' careers after Quorum closed in 1974, giving each of them the spotlight they deserve.

You'll see Ossie's later work with jersey dresses and jumpsuits alongside Celia's hugely successful independent career, including pieces from her acclaimed collaboration with Topshop.

It's a reminder that although they were brilliant together, they were remarkable artists in their own right.

Giving Ossie His Due
Dennis Nothdruft, Head of Exhibitions at the Fashion and Textile Museum, summed it up perfectly.

He believes Ossie Clark's extraordinary skill as a cutter never quite received the lasting recognition it deserved, largely because his business didn't survive as long as some of his contemporaries.

This exhibition aims to put that right.

And it's about time.

A Personal Note
I've spent years researching and writing about Ossie Clark, and one thing becomes obvious very quickly.

His story is far bigger than fashion.

It's about creativity, fame, excess, genius and tragedy—all wrapped up in one remarkable life.

If you've read Ossie Clark: The Unexpected Biography, this exhibition offers the perfect opportunity to see the clothes behind the story.

If you haven't, there's never been a better time to discover why Ossie Clark remains one of Britain's greatest—and most underrated—fashion designers.

I'll certainly be there.