Tomorrow is the day of the start of Fashion Rules, the showcase at Kensington Palace of royal gowns donned once by three of the most iconic female figures in the world – Her Majesty The Queen, Princess Margaret and the late Princess of Wales, Diana.
The gowns worn by the three royals to be displayed have been chosen with utmost care, to portray their style, time and responsibility and have been divided into various bijoux rooms.
The exhibition starts with some of the most intricate and small-waist gowns of the Queen – all of which have been lent by Her Majesty – and were donned in the 50s and the 60s. During that period, Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies were her favorite designers and every piece was created with the exact nature of the event in mind. E.g. the grey silk organza gown by Amies is embellished with delicate mayflowers for a 1959 visit to Nova Scotia – the region of which mayflower is the provincial flower. Another duchesse satin evening dress by Hartnell features national colors of Pakistan as it was worn by Her Majesty at a banquet hosted by Pakistani President in 1961.
From the sober yet glittery gowns of the Queen, the exhibition moves to pieces from the wardrobe of her sister, Princess Margaret. A more rocking array than her sibling though equally elegant, several fashion-pro pieces, can be seen here, designed by Christian Dior’s Marc Bohan. E.g. an ethnic outfit by Carl Toms, particularly for a costume party at the Mustique residence of the Princess proves a sample of her more fun-filled and lavish social connotation.
And finally the chamber dedicated to Lady Diana includes two dresses bought by the Royal Historic Palace in the latest auction which raised more than £80,000 through the sale of ten gowns.
One of these is the asymmetrical cream and pink-beaded Catherine Walker gown donned by Princess Diana in 1991 and the other which is not presently on display but will be in some months, is the black velvet gown by Bruce Oldfield, donned by her in an official portrait shot by Lord Snowdon.
All except one of the dresses are characteristically of the 80s, brightly colored (generally avoided by the royals in the era of black-and-white TV as pale colors would make them look better), drop-waist, and covered with sequins.
Cassie David, the curator, expressed hopes to exhibit one day the outfits of the Duchess of Cambridge. Right now, the would-be mother is too new on the scene and most of her robes are still secured in her personal wardrobe, for being re-donned in an indeed royal style.
Currently we can feast our eyes with the exquisite gowns and feel nostalgic over some recent decades in the past.