It was the launch of the most dazzling exhibition of the year: Crown to Couture. Open to the public from today, this sizzling show is a decadent display of over 200 jaw-dropping pieces, detailing the links between the audaciously glamorous garb of the Georgian-era royal court, and its modern counterpart – the red carpet. Masterminded by curator Polly Putnam (who called upon London Fashion Week favourite, Simone Rocha, for her artfully-entrancing look), the State Apartments of this historic landmark are once again alive with the fiercest collection of high fashion – just as they were in the 18th century, when the palace held near-weekly meetings à la mode for the upper crust of high society. ‘Everyone is welcome at Historic Royal Palaces,’ said Putnam in her touching speech that lauded the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Billy Porter as the new monarchs of style.
Naturally, a refined rolodex of fashion’s most-wanted flocked en masse to mark the occasion. Among the ranks of outré-chic attendees were the designers (Harris Reed, Stephen Jones, Giles Deacon and Patrick McDowell); the daring (Boy George, Dita Von Teese and Daniel Lismore); and the downright-fabulous (the Marchioness of Bath in Vivienne Westwood tartan, and Natasha Poonawalla in white feathers and sequins on the arm of Edward Enninful).
Arriving in a sea of black town cars, guests were given a coloured feather upon arrival at the tree-lined gates, which later corresponded to a time for a special tour of the exhibition. In the meantime, the palatial Pavilion in the grounds served as a hedonistic hub of haute couture. Waiting staff donning gilded tiaras made sure the champagne flowed as attendees enjoyed the delectable offering of entrées with panoramic views of the palace gardens. The ‘Raw Couture Bar’ dished up savoury delights on the left hand side with lobsters on ice peering over the antique-style cart. The sweet-toothed, however, turned right for the ‘Crown Pudding Parlour’; a cornucopia of cakes, puddings and macaroons that would make even Marie Antoinette swoon.