Wednesday 25 April 2012

Diana's Dresses

Kensington Palace has reopened after a £12,000,000 restoration project and I couldn't resist the opportunity to take a look around a royal residence with such a rich history - especially as 5 of Princess Diana's dresses are currently on display at her former home.

Diana: Glimpses of a Modern Princess is a temporary exhibition which charts the evolution of Diana's style through the 80s and 90s. Featuring 5 iconic dresses alongside original sketches of the designs, the small exhibition space is set up like a bedroom, with the dresses displayed as if hanging in wardrobes waiting to be worn.


On display are: the Catherine Walker ivory gown worn in the famous Mario Testino portrait; a Versace LBD worn to the 1995 premiere of Apollo 13; a black taffeta Emanuel gown with sweetheart neckline worn on Diana's first official royal engagement; a beaded, monochrome dress by Bellville Sassoon Lorcan Mullany; and a fuchsia and purple Catherine Walker sari-style gown designed for the 1988 tour of Thailand. 
  
It's striking how modern the dresses still look - I only wish this was a larger scale, permanent exhibition.

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