Fashion Rules Exhibition

Beth and I went to the Fashion Rules exhibition at Kensington Palace yesterday.  There were fewer dresses than I expected but it was most interesting.  There were about 30 dresses on display from Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and Princess Diana.

The "rules" of the Royal formal wear for women were explained and it demonstrated how the rules  changed over time.  for example, in the 1950s, when Norman Hartnell was dressing the Queen, he believed light colours (white, beige, grey) were desirable as it meant onlookers would find it easier to see the Queen if she wore light clothes.  I find this a bit odd, as I would have thought bright colours would have been more visible, but maybe the darker colours were more usual for evening wear as laundry was more onerous then, and light colours would have therefore been more distinctive for the Queen.  The gowns were beautiful, scissor cut (whatever this is) and heavily beaded.

Princess Margaret's clothes were very fitted and flared in the 50s, shorter, narrower and brighter in the 60s but became more flowing and looser in line with ethnic trends in the 1970s, and possibly in line with an expanding waistline!

Princess Diana's dresses were fantastic.  I particularly liked a bright red one that she wore at a state visit dinner in Saudi Arabia.  The colour was a courtesy to the host country (their state flag is red and white).  The style was tall and narrow, with big shoulder pads. Diana would have had all her flesh covered except face and hands, once again to comply with their hosts expectations, but it was the most fantastic piece of power dressing.

This made me think about colour symbolism and the way in which circumstances change the message of the colour.  For example Red can indicate anger, love, danger, and national pride, depending on context and which colours it is displayed with.  So if in my work, I want to portray celebration and respect in relation to Women's Work, which colours do I choose?  Respect for me is a dark colour, because it is serious, sensible and thoutful, but maybe not black or charcoal grey, as this represents depression to me.  Unless maybe depression is black or charcoal as a single colour?  Celebration is bright colours, particularly yellow and orange, but not totally brilliant, just subdued a little.  Further thought required here.