Crown To Couture Is The Exhibition Celebrating Courtly Fashion

by SHOWstudio on 3 April 2023

From 18th-century court dress to today’s red carpet, Kensington Palace’s latest exhibition merges historic and celebrity fashion.

From 18th-century court dress to today’s red carpet, Kensington Palace’s latest exhibition merges historic and celebrity fashion.

During the 18th century, Kensington Palace was the place to see and be seen. Much like today’s movie premieres and award shows, the Georgian court was a hotbed of celebrity activity with fashion just as over-the-top. It’s this notion of the red carpet as a contemporary court that inspired Kensington Palace’s latest exhibition Crown To Couture. As the largest in the palace’s history, over 200 objects across the span of over three centuries from historic garments fit for a queen to Met Gala looks from today's pop-culture royalty, will show visitors what it takes get noticed.

Crown To Couture

'Just as the designers of today dress celebrity royalty for important public events, Kensington Palace was home to the original red carpet of the Georgian court', says curator Polly Putnam. Paying homage to Kensington Palace's history, the exhibition will allow visitors to discover the designs that dominated the Georgian age. Along with intricately embroidered court suits, the exhibition will also display an over 360 year old silk dress dubbed the 'Silver Tissue Dress'.

Crown To Couture

To draw parallels between the flamboyant fashions of then and now, these historic garments will be showcased alongside some show stopping celebrity looks. Designs worn by pop royalty like Lizzo, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga are all set to be on display with curators working closely with brands and celebrity stylists to pull some of the biggest red carpet looks from the last decade.

Crown To Couture

‘We’re thrilled to be collaborating with a wide variety of well-known fashion houses and emerging designers to showcase some of the most iconic red carpet looks of recent years and celebrate the wonderful diversity and creativity we see there today,' says Historic Royal Palaces curator Claudia Acott Williams. 'By bringing these familiar looks into the Palace and placing them in conversation with spectacular 18th century court dress, we hope to provide a new perspective on these historic spaces and the seemingly distant customs of the Georgian Court and allow visitors to experience the Palace as it was meant to be experienced: filled to the brim with the most fashionable and influential names of the day.’

Crown To Couture

With the recent news that Jeremy Scott has stepped down as Moschino's creative director after a decade, consider it serendipitous that the exhibition will feature some of his most iconic designs. From the Italian brand's A/W 20 collection, one of Scott's Marie Antoinette inspired dresses complete with a corset, pannier, and delicate ruffle detailing will be presented with the bejewelled and bedazzled Moschino chandelier dress worn by Katy Perry in the 2019 Met Gala and a feathered gown worn by Iris Law at the 2022 Met Gala.

Crown to Couture opens to the public on 5 April 2023.

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