Tomorrow would have been Princess Margaret’s 91st birthday. She is a complex figure that gets written off a lot- yes, she was absolutely not without her faults, but she certainly led as full a life as any of us can. And one of the things that fascinates me most is her fashion. She had some incredible fashion moments that can’t be discounted. I knew that I wanted to pick one of these moments for today’s Style Bite, but it took me ages to decide. And I’ve settled on one that gives us two for the price of one, Princess Margaret and Dior!
Princess Margaret and Dior
Princess Margaret discovered the House of Dior and the eponymous designer on her 1949 trip to Paris. She immediately fell in love with his designs, and requested a private fashion on his trip to London in 1950. He would then dress her for her 21st birthday in a stunning gown. (I know a lot of people were underwhelmed by it at the Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition, but I thought it was still gorgeous!) She would continue to wear Dior for much of her adult life, through many phases of the house.
Princess Margaret Attends a Charity Dior Show
I have waxed lyrical on the blog about my love for Christian Dior and his designs. Designers lead different lives now, and can fulfil very different functions. However, one of my favourite “Dior moments” is his 1958 charity fashion show at Blenheim Palace. Dior loved Britain, and described his many visits as “a sensation of happiness and great personal freedom”. What I love about this particular event is that not only was Princess Margaret supporting one of her favourite designers, Dior was actually there. We don’t often see designers at events like these, or even brands participating, so it truly stands out for me.
What do you think of Princess Margaret and Dior’s relationship?
Cheers,
The Historian
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