Dresses Gallery

Royal Wedding 1947

A page from The Tatler entitled, Happiness was the Keynote with two photographs of the wedding day of Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II) and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten (Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh) on 20 November 1947. The top picture shows the royal family on the balcony with the newlywed couple waving to crowds. The bottom picture shows the bridegroom's mother, Princess Andrew of Greece (holding handbag) and five of the bridesmaids, Lady Elizabeth Lambart, Lady Caroline Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Miss Diana Bowes-Lyon, the Hon. Margaret Elphinstone and Lady Pamela Mountbatten waiting to wave farewell to the Princess and the Duke as they left for Waterloo on their way to Romsey where they would spend the first part of their honeymoon at Broadlands, the country seat of Earl Mountbatten. Date: 1947

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10500233

Two types of dresses, 1954

On the left, an 1890-inspired party frock in striped taffeta with the stand-up collar, tight bodice, near-crinoline skirt, and steel-buttoned, three-quarter sleeves characteristic of a decade when fashion reached an all-time height of dash and distinction. By Blanes. Added is a piquant student's collar, artist's bow and figure-flattering vertical stripes. On the right is a dress of featherlight tweed by Frederica, its blouse and skirt air accomplished by means of a built-in belt and softly blousing top. Here, at last, tailoring has become completely feminine - a matter of sculpting to the form rather than following hard, masculine lines

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10418529

Royal Wedding 1947 - bride and bridesmaid dresses

A fairytale wedding gown by Norman Hartnell for Princess Elizabeth, in itself a tribute to British skill in design and workmanship. Cut on classic lines in ivory duchesse satin, it is lavishly enriched with pearl and crystal embroidery. The 15 ft train of pearl embroidered ivory silk tulle falls from the shoulders beneath the enveloping folds of the crisp tulle veil. The Winterhalter style dresses for the bridesmaids in ethereal white tulle over satin are scattered with syringa flowers in applique satin embroidered in pearl and crystal. The going-away ensemble in love-in-the-mist blue is on the right; shoes to go with it in elasticated mushroom beige suede are shown, with the bridal shoes and bridesmaids head dress above. Date: 1947

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10502089