From Kate to Charlie: Vogue 100 features rare celebrity portraits

Vogue 100: A Century of Style, a major exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, showcases the remarkable range of photography that has been at the forefront of British Vogue since it was founded in 1916.

With paper shortages and restrictions on overseas shipping in place in America, Condé Nast struggled to get Vogue to audiences in Britain during the First World War. The publisher decided the most practical solution was to create a special British edition that could be produced in London and in autumn 1916 the first copies were printed for sale.

In the 100 years since British Vogue has earned a reputation as ‘the fashion bible’, debuting the defining designs of the century – including those by Dior, Saint Laurent and McQueen. This exhibition includes vintage prints, experimental fashion shoots, unpublished works and original magazines that demonstrate its influential role in British fashion.

While early editions were intended to replicate the American publication exactly – minus the British English spelling – its first editor, Elspeth Champcommunal, had bigger ambitions. Champcommunal wanted Vogue be ‘more than a fashion magazine’ and introduced articles on society, culture and sports, as well as health and beauty and travelogues.

Testament to her vision, on display here are many of the cultural icons of the 20th century who have graced the pages of the magazine: Henri Matisse, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire, Gwyneth Paltrow and David Beckham, among others. Additionally the harrowing images shot by Lee Miller – Vogue’s official correspondent – capture the brutality of the First World War.

This exhibition has been organised by the National Portrait Gallery, London in collaboration with British Vogue as part of the magazine’s centenary celebrations.

Structured in reverse chronology, the exhibition starts with the magazine today, working backwards through the decades to the very first issue 100 years ago.