The collection includes items belonging to Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret, along with a seldom-seen piece from Queen Victoria’s dress collection.
Members of the British royal family have consistently used clothing as a means of communication, continuing this practice even today with Queen Elizabeth II. Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle Some of these messages are deciphered in a new exhibit at Kensington Palace titled Dress Codes , operating from March 13 through November 30.
The exhibit aims to decipher royal attire across the last few centuries by examining designs, details, and the creation of a softly powerful appearance. WWD Everything ranging from "tiny anchors adorning the buttons of a crimson Catherine Walker ensemble" to "subtle lavender strokes on an elongated 'half mourning' dress," as well as "the zipper fly on a set of checkered pants,” are all subject to close examination, including items of attire from Queen Elizabeth , Princess Margaret , and Princess Diana , spent much of her royal life at Kensington Palace, which serves as the setting for the exhibition.
WWD It was reported that the 34 exhibits featured in the display were selected from over 10,000 artifacts within the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, which is kept at Hampton Court Palace. The publication noted, "Although limited in number, these pieces convey significant insights into history, psychology, and symbolism."
One of the main aspects of royal attire is that even though it appears dazzling, these garments serve a purpose," explained Historic Royal Palaces curator Matthew Storey according to the publication. "This differs from everyday dressing.
One of the pieces Storey chose to display was a long, red, beaded Bruce Oldfield dress that Diana wore while on a royal tour of Saudi Arabia in 1986.
"Careful consideration went into this design, factoring in the nation's climate and cultural aspects, as well as the specific event where it would be worn," Storey explained.
The dress was part of a collection of 17 garments that were auctioned off at Christie’s in 1997, the same year of her tragic passing. The sale generated $3.2 million for various charitable causes focused on HIV, AIDS, and cancer. "These pieces represent her everyday attire, and she made sure they served their final purpose by being sold to support organizations close to her heart," explained Storey according to the report. The Telegraph This is also something she accomplished during her life. She dressed mannequins in those garments, sold reproductions of the catalog, and released them into the public sphere.
The sparkling dress is displayed next to a Harris Tweed jacket from the 1970s that Diana wore when she was younger, and is named “Althorp” after Diana’s ancestral home as a result.
Other outfits of Diana’s on display include a Catherine Walker suit worn to a 1984 christening of the P&O Cruise Liner, the Royal Princess. There are also outfits of others outside members of the royal family in the exhibition, including a black dress, cape, and hat that Vivienne Westwood worn during her investiture at Buckingham Palace.
“I didn’t want just to show the clothing worn by royals or courtiers,” Storey said.
Artifacts from Queen Victoria’s collection, including a mourning dress, are showcased in this exhibition. It also features coordinated children's outfits worn by Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret during the 1930s, along with samples of Margaret’s bold fashion choices. Additionally, there is a tartan ensemble belonging to the Duke of Windsor, who relinquished his crown as King Edward VIII in 1936 to wed Wallis Simpson. This display delves into how members of the royal family and guests communicate via attire, examining the unspoken rules of authoritative styling and various considerations like weather conditions and cultural norms influencing clothing decisions for international engagements. The Telegraph reported, adding that the exhibition took three years to put together. The exhibition also featured the help of young people from the ages of 14 to 17 who served as Young Producers for the display.
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