"Fashion Rules" Exhibition at Kensington Palace - Part II, Princess Margaret's Dresses

Here comes Part II of my post series about the the "Fashion Rules" exhibition at Kensington Palace, featuring dresses worn by the Queen, Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales (here you can have a look at the previous post, featuring the Queen's gowns).

 

Evening dress of cream silk satin with beaded embroidery by an unknown designer, 1951.

A glamourous party frock, with a rather risqué, for the times, plunging neckline and halter-neck straps, which marked a departure from the demure style traditionally favoured by memeber of the royal family.

 



Princess Margaret wearing the gown at a film premiere in London, 1951. Photo typicall.de

 

Day dress of grey lace and tulle with matching bolero by Norman Hartnell, 1952.

This is really beautiful seen in person, the photo doesn't do it justice, and one of Princess Margaret's favourite dresses and worn on a number of occasions, including when posing for an official portrait by Dorothy Wilding in 1953, as seen below. 

 

National Portrait Gallery

 

 

Evening dress of silk gazar with beaded embroidery by Norman Hartnell, 1977.

Worn by the Princess at the Silver Jubilee celebrations and to present a music award to pop group ABBA, as seen below.

 

 

Photo friendsreunited.co.uk

 

 

Silk caftan and turban by Carl Tomas, 1976.

Fashioned from luxurious Indian sari silk, this ensamble was designed especially for a fancy dress party on the Caribbean island of Mustique, where the Princess had a private residence, and reflects the growing popularity of the "ethnic" trend during the 1970s. The Princess wore the ensamble both with and without the jewelled turban, as shown in the photos above.

 

 

Fur coat by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior, circa 1960s.

Fur coats like this wear in fashion during the 1960s and 1970s, and Princess Margaret owned several of a similar design.

 

Day dress with antique needle lace panel, by an unknown designer, circa 1960s.

This dress has a short hemline, in keeping with the 1960s fashion for miniskirts, and is embellished with exquisite Belgian antique lace, dating between 1870 and 1890; together these elements contribute to creating a whimsical feel echoing the romantic trend popular in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

To be continued with Princess Diana's dresses...