Time to book a plane ticket to London because Kensington Palace is hosting a new exhibition dubbed Crown to Couture, to showcase how centuries-old royal attire has influenced the red carpet fashion of today. Memorable garments worn by Hollywood royalty, like Beyoncé, Blake Lively, Lizzo, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, are included amongst the 200-objects on display (the largest retrospective ever staged at Kensington Palace).
The curated selection (opening April 5) will be set up in the opulent State Apartments of the palace, and will draw parallels between the pomp and circumstance of the 18th century Georgian court and contemporary creations worn to the Met Gala, the Grammy Awards and more.
Alongside the lavish silks, brocades, ruffles and diamonds worn by the high society aristocrats of the past, there will be Beyoncé’s resplendent gold Peter Dundas gown and House of Malakai halo headdress she wore to perform at the 2017 Grammy Awards. There will also be Lively’s copper and turquoise Atelier Versace gown worn to the 2022 Met Gala, inspired by New York City architecture. Lively’s special Lorraine Schwartz Jewelry will be on display too including the copper tiara that was inspired by the Statue of Liberty and her custom earrings, which featured approximately 90 carats of nude diamonds, alongside fan shaped mint green Colombian emeralds.
Lady Gaga’s bright green Christopher John Rogers gown from the 2020 MTV VMAs and Perry’s candelabra Moschino creation from the 2019 Met Gala are also both in the exhibit.
Billie Eilish’s elegant cream-colored tulle Oscar de la Renta gown from the 2021 Met Gala will be showcased alongside a mantua worn by Helen Robertson of Ladykirk to a Holyrood ball in 1760, further emphasizing the similarities across centuries.
According to The Guardian, the curator of collections at Historic Royal Palaces Polly Putnam said the Georgian court offered, “one of the greatest stages for sartorial display. What you wore was incredibly important, because a good court appearance could mean furthering your career, a good marriage, you could catch the eye of the king or queen.”
And now, she says, “a great red carpet moment can make or break your career.”
From Lizzo’s custom Thom Browne ensemble from the 2022 Met Gala to Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy dress from the 1954 Oscars, the sprawling exhibit will even feature the oldest surviving example of court dress — the Silver Tissue Dress, which dates back to the 1660s.
Crown to Couture will be on display at Kensington Palace from April 5 through October 29.
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