Earlier this week, we were invited by Historic Royal Palaces to view the ‘Dress Codes’ Exhibition at Kensington Palace, which explores the codes and conventions of royal clothing, and the powerful impact fashion can make when boundaries are pushed and dress codes evolve.
Exquisite outfits worn by Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, the Duke of Windsor, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and Diana, Princess of Wales are on display at the Exhibit.
Dress Codes showcases both recognisable and rarely-seen treasures from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, a collection of 10,000 objects spanning 500 years, cared for by Historic Royal Palaces.
Among the highlights of this exciting new exhibition are pieces worn by a young Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Princess Margaret and Queen Victoria.
A mourning Dress and Cape from Queen Victoria
A Cape and exquisite mourning Dress from Queen Alexandra
The Duke of Windsor’s suits and uniform of the Welsh Guards.
Two Dresses which were worn by Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret as girls in 1936.
Also on display were two evening gown from Princess Margaret, made by Thea Porter around 1978 and Jose Pitoy Moreno around 1980.
Two evenings gowns, a suit and a jacket which were once worn by the late Diana, Princess of Wales
What I enjoyed seeing was a Court Dress worn to Buckingham Palace in the 1920s, and the men’s Court Suits from Britain, Denmark, and Japan, which has been exquisitely restored.
Stunning items from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection on display include an extremely rare Japanese court suit dating from the early 20th century, and a never-before-seen 1920s Reville court dress worn to Buckingham Palace.
We also enjoyed seeing the contemporary designs on display, some of which were much more impressive than the royal outfits.
Alongside these spectacular examples of royal and court dress, discover how dress codes can be reset and re-made for today through designs by our Young Producers, aged 14-17. This new partnership with local youth groups paves the way for a new generation of young people to contribute to the arts and fashion industries.
As always, no visit to Kensington Palace is complete without a visit to the Jewel Room, where Queen Victoria’s Emerald Tiara and the Fife Tiara are on display but Fife Fringe Tiara is set to be used fro two family Weddings this summer so has been temporarily retrieved from the exhibit.
Thank You to Historic Royal Palaces for inviting us to Kensington Palace to cover the Exhibition!
