Curators at Historic Royal Palaces, an independent charity that manages some of the UK’s unoccupied royal palaces – including Kensington Palace – saw Blake Lively as the Statue of Liberty in her stunning Atelier Versace gown for the 2022 Met Gala. A contemporary red carpet resembles a Georgian court.
Crown to Couture is Kensington Palace’s largest exhibition to date and shows how the Royal Court was a place to ‘see and be seen’ in the eighteenth century, with royalty, politicians and servants using fashion and expensive jewelery to elevate their status. It’s also known as ‘showing off’ and equates to the haute couture outfits worn by celebrities like Lizzo, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.
The exhibition is on view from April 5 to October 29 and displays around two hundred items. All of these are spread across all areas of Kensington Palace. From ball gowns to court suits and handbags to jewellery, but make-up and shapewear are also shown. More specifically, for example, a yellow dress with a three-meter dress worn by Lady Helen Robertson, Lizzo’s Thom Browne dress from the 2022 Met Gala, and Moschino’s sparkling chandelier dress worn by Katy Perry are shown. Exhibition.
Polly Putnam, curator of historic royal palaces, said in a statement: “We are delighted to be transforming the State Apartments of Kensington Palace for our biggest exhibition yet. Filling these historic spaces with beautiful examples of historical and contemporary costumes really brings them to life, and we can’t wait for our visitors to experience these rooms in a whole new way.
“From your designer and materials to the subtle messages a dress conveys, this exhibition shows the parallels between the world of the Georgian court and the contemporary red carpet like you’ve never seen before.”
Kensington Palace opens its biggest exhibition: Crowne du Couture
The exhibition takes visitors on a journey. From the preparation and styling required to attend one of the city’s glitziest events and the ‘fashion rules’ to follow, to grand visits to court and the red carpet. Customs and rituals between the eighteenth-century royal court and today’s red carpet are shown, juxtaposing modern pieces with historical examples to show that the preparation of a Georgian event is not far removed from that of a red carpet.
Billy Porter’s ‘Sun God’ dress, Kendall Jenner’s shimmering Hepburn-inspired Givenchy dress, Coleman Domingo’s bright fuchsia Versace suit from the 2021 Oscars, and Lady Gaga’s emerald green ensemble. Mask of Lance Victor Moore.
Contrasted with the contemporary look of the young lady Theophila Harris in the 1660s, it is said to have been worn at formal events and in the company of King Charles II. The width of a court gown is a way to show off how much valuable silk you have and make a grand entrance. Other highlights include Rockingham dresses, trimmed with silver thread and silver lace and believed to have been worn by the second Marquess of Rockingham, the wife of a British prime minister in the 1760s. The look has over 14 yards of fabric. Today it weighs over 10,000 pounds.
Additionally, the exhibition also highlights the importance of the stylist. For example, Frances Abington is featured – one of the most popular actresses in mid-18th century London, known for introducing new fashions to society. For example, he dressed important women of the time. Additionally, today’s stylists such as Nicola Formichetti, Jason Rembert and Elizabeth Saltzman are also given a platform. It’s nice to see that each look on display not only mentions who designed the dress, but also who was the brain behind the dress.
The exhibition also shows how clothing is used to make a political statement. For example, a Christian Siriano-designed dress with the word ‘vote’ worn by Lizzo during the 2020 US presidential election and a dress from Vivienne Westwood’s 2008 spring/summer show with environmental slogans are shown. Other highlights in this category include Lena Waithe’s Carolina Herrera-designed rainbow cape, inspired by the LGBTQ+ flag and worn at the 2018 Met Gala, and two 18th-century political opponents, shown side by side.
In general, there are only so many highlights. A few more: The King’s Gallery display will showcase the most glamorous looks, from Billie Eilish’s billowing pink Oscar de la Renta gown to the 2021 Met Gala to Blake Lively’s Versace ensemble. Copper to green. Check out Jessie Buckley’s Schiapelli suit, Iris Law’s Moschino cut-out dress and Timothée Chalamet’s Tom Ford suit from Cannes 2021.
In the King’s Presence Chamber, where kings, ministers and foreign ambassadors were once received by kings, visitors get an idea of the music. Beyoncé wore a gold dress designed by Peter Dundas to the 2017 Grammy Awards. The Queen’s Gallery, a space dedicated to the Queen’s entertainment, is lined with contemporary looks inspired by eighteenth-century fashions from the United Kingdom and France, with pieces by Jean Paul Gaultier, Edward Crutchley, Simone Rocha, Erdem and Moschino.
Claudia Acott Williams, Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, added: “The customs of the Georgian court may seem distant and archaic, but we hope that Crowne du Couture will provide a new and familiar lens through which to view the places. Traditions understand the court.
“By highlighting historical court dresses alongside today’s red carpet, we see that they are not so whimsical.”
This article previously appeared on FashionUnited/COM and was translated and edited by Sylvana Lijbaart.
