Grace Kelly’s life was sadly cut short when she died in a road accident at the age of 52. The V&A’s exhibition, Grace Kelly – Style Icon, is a reminder of her elegance and impeccable dress sense.

The nearly forty ensembles along with smaller displays of shoes, hats, jewellery, gloves and even sunglasses lead you through Grace Kelly’s life from model to monarch as well as giving a lesson in fashion history.

Classic, streamlined Christian Dior suits and dresses designed by Marc Bohan, an Yves Saint Laurent ‘Mondrian’ dress, a swirly harvest gold and orange gown by Givenchy, a cream and burgundy Chanel suit and a sparkling Oleg Cassini evening dress are all there - along with dresses from her films.  

A navy blue dress from “Rear Window” was a highlight for me as it’s my favourite film.  Although not overtly sexy it has enough intrigue to make Jimmy Stewart think twice about putting down his binoculars.  Sadly, the sheer negligee and the satin nightgown Grace Kelly slowly extracts from her Mark Cross overnight case in a less than subtle attempt to gain Jimmy’s attention are not in the exhibition, but a girl can’t have everything.

Elaborate fancy dress balls were de rigueur in Monaco.  A dress featuring a jewel encrusted bodice looks downright plain when compared to the head-dress that completed the outfit.  Apparently, the creation reached such a height that the princess had to travel to the ball not in a limousine or a coach made from a pumpkin; but in the back of a van, lying horizontally. Function trumps poise on occasion.

Grace Kelly’s sense of understated glamour is a rarity in Hollywood today.  Her classic sense of style, calm demeanour and grace are her lesson and legacy.

 

V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

Call:     +44 (0)20 7942 2000

Exhibition runs from 17 April - 26 September 2010
Daily 10.00-17.30
(last ticket sold 16.45, last entry 17.00)

 

 

£7.40 adults
£4.90 senior citizens, full time students, ES40 holders, 12-17 year olds.

Museum is open (and free)
10.00 to 17.45 daily
10.00 to 22.00 Fridays (selected galleries remain open after 18.00 )
Closing commences 10 minutes before time stated

Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

South Kensington or Knightsbridge Tube

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