Passion for Fashion Exhibition at Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace’s new ‘Passion for Fashion – 300 Years of Style at Blenheim Palace’ exhibition, opening on 11th February, 2017 is to be extended to 23rd April, 2017. The extension of the exhibition reflects the generous loans from a host of new donors, including Stephen Jones Millinery, Christian Louboutin, Newbridge Silverware and Kerry Taylor Auctions who organised the loan of a ‘Revenge Dress’ designed by Christina Stambolian.
The exhibition is a celebration of three centuries of Blenheim related fashion and style. Visitors can see pieces from Blenheim Palace’s private archive, as well as collections on loan from The Hereford Museum and The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum.
Exhibition curator Antonia Keaney says: “We are thrilled at the generosity of so many contributors and of our sponsors Bicester Village. This has allowed us to stage a fantastic exhibition celebrating fashion and style and how it has been reflected at Blenheim Palace over the centuries.”
She continues: “By extending the exhibition, which will be installed throughout Blenheim Palace’s State Rooms, we have been able to include more for visitors to see and enjoy. From Dior to Princess Diana there will be so much to discover!”
The priceless collections of 18th, 19th and 20th century items of clothing, shoes and accessories will be mounted throughout the Palace with displays in 11 separate locations, and there will be a special digital display featuring the recent Dior S/S17 Cruise collection catwalk show which took place in the State Rooms in May 2016.
A Passion for Fashion will look at the outerwear and underwear which would have been worn by family members, as well as some of the more unusual accessories used by them – false eyebrows made from ‘mouse’ skin, fans, wigs and scalp scratchers and a look at King Louis XIV’s obsession with shoes and how the styles he favoured have been adopted by the fashionistas of today.
This captivating exhibition will also highlight examples of clothing worn by Victorian children, including the young Winston Churchill, who was born at Blenheim Palace.