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Princess Margaret’s favorite dress? A romantic dream

In 2019, in a different world, thousands of visitors booked a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. There, from February to July of that year, the exhibition Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams (the largest ever set up in the UK on the French couturier) has attracted many fashion enthusiasts, and beyond.

The star of the retrospective? L’dress that Monsieur Dior made for Princess Margaret’s 21st birthday. A legendary dress silhouetted at the entrance to the first room wearing the signs of aging (Elizabeth’s younger sister wore it on several occasions, often declaring an absolute predilection for that dress) and an intricate couture embroidery defined as bulletproof from the English magazine AnOther Magazine. Next to the iconic model, occupying an entire wall, the equally mythological shot of the real photographer Cecil Beaton which portrays Margaret ready for the party at Sandrigham House, looking stylish and radiant on her birthday.

Show Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams at the V&A Museum in London: Margaret’s 21st birthday dress. Getty photo

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Cream colored, asymmetrical in design, with a chiffon strap dropped to one shoulder and diagonally draped across the front. The narrow waist (55 cm) highlighted by a thin belt and the luxuriant full skirt made up of seven layers of silk tulle. Embroidered everywhere with gold-colored raffia (when customizing the dress, Dior asked Margaret if she felt like a silver or gold personality, and she chose the latter) and straw-covered sequins (after seeing the creation, the princess joked that the ornaments looked like potato peelings). A garment that constitutes a chapter in the history of costume and which has been part of the permanent collection since 1968 Museum of London.

The Dior dress from Margaret’s 21st birthday. Getty photo

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No article that talks about Margaret’s style and looks could ever think of not mentioning it, since we’re talking about one of his best-known outfits, as well as among the most famous of the Dior maison. Its classic silhouette becomes very contemporary in detail. So much so that we have seen one revival/tribute in lilac by Moschino at the recent Fall/Winter 2023-24 fashion shows. Not by chance within a collection inspired by punk princess of the Third Millennium.

Moschino Fall/Winter 2023-24. Photo Imaxtree

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Beyond being a healthy carrier of messages avant-garde, the dress is spectacular which also tells the special relationship between the famous French designer and Margaret who, compared to her sister Elizabeth, he had more freedom of sartorial choice. While the future queen was expected to remain faithful to national brands and names in terms of looks, alla Shoot of the time fashionable forays into foreign lands were allowed. And where better to shop in style than from the man Jean Cocteau described as «the unique nimble genius of our age with the magical name that unites Dieu And or (God and gold)?».

Margaret, the jewel collector

When it comes to jewels, the princess had a personal style, which moved from the ancient to the contemporary. Her casket, crammed full of diamonds, almost all ended up at auction in 2016, yielding over 10 million euros to the heirs. To pay back taxes, they said

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The first meeting between them dates back to 1949 when the young princess visited the French fashion salon during her first trip to Europe. It is said that the stylist was impressed by Margaret’s style which he described as “very fascinating”. In April 1950, the day after his first show in Britain, the couturier organized a private presentation in London for the Queen Mother, Elizabeth and her younger sister, together with Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent and Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark.

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Tiaras, brooches and bracelets: 2021 is the golden year of royal jewels at auction

The gavel struck dizzying numbers for pieces that belonged to Marie Antoinette, Josephine Bonaparte, the Romanovs but also Princess Margaret. That of precious memorabilia is a business that is more thriving than ever, also thanks to a skilful communication that also passes through social networks

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And, who knows, maybe the famous one 1951 party girl dress it would never have existed if it hadn’t been for this special fashion show. That year, in fact, the princess ordered her 21st birthday dress from the line Oblique by Dior, an adaptation of the design Matinee Poetique presented in the Spring/Summer collection.

The Dior dress from Margaret’s 21st birthday. Getty photo

Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images

From 1954 to 1958 Margaret was a guest of honor at the Dior shows at Blenheim Palace, remaining a loyal customer of the maison throughout her life. The designer wrote about her in his autobiography Dior By Dior: “It crystallized all the frenzied popular interest in royalty. She was a true fairytale princess, delicate, graceful, exquisite.’ But she is also independent, free, a dreamer. A modern Cinderella and, without a doubt, with the perfect dress.

Cecil Beaton’s portrait of Margaret in the Dior dress. Getty photo

Joe Maher/Getty Images

Source: Vanity Fair

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