London. In ordinary life a wedding dress represents a dream come true for one day, a long day which becomes unforgettable for a whole life.
But a royal wedding travels around the world, survives in the centuries and writes a page of history.
The “Wedding dresses 1775-2014” – in exposition until 15 March 2015 – at the Victoria and Albert Museum let me dive in a magic atmosphere among fabulous garments which treasure old memories and timeless emotions.
I actually felt like a little girl who imagines being in a fable. I had lost the sense of the time to admire over 80 outfits which are displayed chronologically over two floors.
In downstairs it’s possible to look at the ancient dresses from 1775 to 1950s, while in the upper floor there is a modern collection with celebrities’ wedding dresses.
Soft background music conducted me in this enchanting tour among dresses, worn in Britain by brides of many faiths. I paid attention to delicious accessories : jewellery, shoes, veils, wreaths, hats and corsetry.
Amazingly, and to my eyes a touch ridiculously were the wide-hooped skirts of the Mantua. Women were required to wear this cumbersome style to royal assemblies.
It’s delightful to associate attire to stories these pieces can tell. By corsets and petticoats, I thought about scandals at court which usually concealed passions and secrets.
I also appreciated a silk hat covered with flowers – included in the wedding dress worn in 1780 by Jane Bailey, a wealthy farmer’s daughter – because it made me remember the novel of Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre.
In the section, “In Society from 1810 to 1830” there are evening dresses, in particular a “Ball dress” which can’t go unnoticed.
Many attendees were astonished and a woman said: “It seems a Sissi princess’s dress.”
But it’s not very similar because Empress Elizabeth of Austria wore wider garments than this “Ball dress”.
From the cream colour to the white, this different preference is demonstrated during the reign of Queen Victoria.
The white wedding dress, veil and orange-blossom wreath were so popular with brides that they were soon regarded as traditional.
I read on the brochures a curious aspect about the veil: it was useful to protect brides from public gaze, hiding any shyness and tears.
I also found out silver – representing purity – was suitable for special occasions. This custom is still practiced today, presenting to brides some pieces of silverware.
Going on my visit in this exhibition, I was captured by the sophisticated wedding dress designed by Norman Hartnell in 1933 for Margaret Whingham – later Duchess of Argyll – who married Charles Sweeny.
I almost cried as I saw a long train – over 3 metres – of satin sheath dress which was decorated with orange flowers and embellished with artificial pearls. Most women stopped watching news clipping from then.
Later I left downstairs, supposing the wedding dress exhibition was almost concluded. When I went up to the stairs, my eyes were not able to cease looking the sparkle from celebrities’ wedding dress.
I have been fascinated by Kate Moss’s spectacular couture wedding dress designed by John Galliano and Jamie Hince’s outfit created by Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent in 2011.
These garments illuminate the gallery due to a shower of Swarovsky crystals and diamonds on the silk chiffon.
There is also the silk dress designed by Anna Valentine for the Duchess of Cornwell who married the Prince of Wales in 2005.
I hoped to find the wedding dresses worn by Diana Spencer and Kate Middleton.
They are shielded in another gallery, but it would have been exciting to see them in this wedding dress exhibition.
On the dome many footages are projected, showing the faces of many princesses.
Observing their gazes, I can tell some princesses appeared melancholic, maybe because prosperity doesn’t give a key for happiness.
“Wedding dresses exhibition” let people look closely not only a panorama fashion over the last centuries, but inside people’s lives as well.
An excellent work has been done by the curator, Edwina Ehrman – specialist in the history of London fashion and haute couture.
