Exhibition Review: 'Fashion Rules' at Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace is one of my favorite museum spaces in the city, up there with the V&A! The approach their curators take to presenting their exhibits is lovely, for old and young alike, because it draws out our inner child. For a site with such a rich history concerning the English monarch, it makes it interesting. For instance, their wonderful ‘Enchanted Palace’ exhibition some years ago I still remember for their intriguing and, yes, magical displays, combining history, fashion and art installation. Weaving together memorable stories of female monarchs, in each room in the palace they had different designers decorate, including Vivienne Westwood. They make fact seem fantastic, flashing descriptions of the displays on the walls with projects instead of the typical laminated description. You can almost imagine little fairies hiding around you, secretly watching the public as they wander the walls. And their lightning always has an air of mystery, and what better way to get one’s interest than adding intrigue?

I’ve already visited the Fashion Rules exhibition before, but on this wet cold November morning I wanted to experience that nostalgic wonder Kensington Palace holds. Going on until summer 2015, the exhibit is another of many to present dresses worn by royals, including Princess Di, highlighting the changes in the attire of the royals, the leap from regal to chic. 

Working from the 1950’s to the 80’s, it was interesting to learn again how the mind frame of the royals changed when their place in the public’s eye shifted their approach to fashion. Sure, they’ll always have stunning gowns, such as these featured by Norman Hartnell. But it was interesting to look at the wardrobe of Princess Margaret who, unlike her sister, had a little less pressure to look the part in the public’s eye and therefor was at liberty to be more fashion forward-even risqué, like this number!

Of course, there was a whole room for the late Princess of Wales, one of the most fashionable monarchs in history. It was interesting to learn how her wardrobe was influenced by the ‘bigger is better’, ‘power dressing’ prerogative of women in the 80’s, ergo forging a flashy, fabulous collection of gowns.

The exhibition is insightful, well curated, and not the first of the museum’s collections of royal gowns-and surely not to be the last. I say go, not just to see this exhibit, but the Museum itself for a wonderful day out for all the family!