Much to the delight of Brits and tourists alike, Kensington Palace has opened a new exhibition that looks back at popular fashion over four decades through the eyes of three of the most famous royals to ever live; Her Majesty The Queen, Princess Margaret and, of course, Princess Diana. ‘Fashion Rules’ takes you on a nostalgic journey through history and allows visitors to get up close and personal with some of the most iconic dresses ever.
The exhibition begins by looking back at post-war Britain in the 1950s; a time of innovation and optimism as the nation picked itself up and brushed itself down. The end of clothes rationing undoubtedly impacted on the style of garments produced during this time as restrictions on material use was dropped and designers such as Hardy Amies were freed from the oppressing shackles of war. This is reflected in the utterly breathtaking and glamorous dresses worn by the queen herself showcased within the exhibition, the most beautiful in my opinion being the elegant full skirted gown crafted by Norman Hartnell, a designer renowned for his use of embellishment and attention to detail.
Progressing through the five rooms, visitors are suddenly launched into a decade of vibrancy and social change known as the swinging 60s. Depicted is a time when pop music dominated and lawless youth culture dictated the pace of life and popular fashion. The exhibition gives you a taste of 60s and early 70s style particularly through the wardrobe of Princess Margaret, who had less responsibility than her older sister Elizabeth giving her greater liberty to act and dress how she wished. Visitors are treated to a look at Margaret’s most controversial fashion decisions, including a purple sequin gown designed by Christian Dior that embraced the new ‘slim look’, which was considered a slightly risqué choice of dress for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.
Last but by no means least the exhibition reaches its climax by taking a look back at the extravagance of the 80s. Not only did this decade see a change in the social position of women, but fashion too saw a transformation from 1970s harsh punk to a softer look known as new romanticism and Hollywood glamour. Encased within the final room is a collection of dresses worn by Diana Princess of Wales, each of which typify 80s style with their dropped waists and wide shoulders. What’s also clear in this part of the exhibition is Diana’s unique personal taste and keen interest in championing undiscovered British designers. It really is a thrill to see the iconic dresses, which ultimately revived the British fashion industry and helped the likes of Catherine Walker become household names. It’s almost surreal also to be standing so close to the dresses that have become so recognisable due to the scale of media attention she received following her marriage to Charles and after her death in 1997. One of these infamous dresses being the blue evening gown decorated in diamante stars designed by Murray Arbeid, which she wore at a dinner given for the President of Greece in 1986.
‘Fashion Rules’ is not to be missed. In possessing such an impressive collection the exhibition not only offers a great opportunity to learn about the evolution of fashion but also gives a worthy glimpse into the lives of three royal women whose every move and, more relevantly, every dress has been analysed by the world.
The exhibition runs until the 28th February 2015 at Kensington Palace.
Alice Leadbetter