Grace Kelly Style has been published by the V&A Museum, London, to accompany their exhibition entitled Grace Kelly Style Icon – Fashion for a Hollywood Princess. The book has been written by H. Kristina Haugland, edited by Jenny Lister (curator of the exhibition) and enhanced by designer profiles by Samantha Erin Safer.
More than 30 years since her death, Grace Kelly is still a style icon of the 21st century. The styles she favoured as a student and a young actress were adapted by her designers to suit her role as a royal princess in one of Europe's oldest royal families. There are few women on earth who can claim to have been a famous Hollywood actress, a royal bride, and a royal princess.
The publication highlights her personal views on fashion. It demonstrates how she carefully cultivated her public image through what she wore, and also explores her relationship with the designers she patronised.
Grace Kelly Style examines Kelly's wardrobe from the American casual wear and the smartly tailored two-piece suits to the fabulous ball gowns created by Europe's leading couturiers including Hubert de Givenchy, Christóbal Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior. Readers are introduced to these designers through supplementary essays provided by Samantha Erin Safer.
The publication includes an excellent range of supporting materials, including film stills, dress details, portraits and photographs.
Grace Kelly Style – Layout of the Publication
After a Foreword by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, and an Introduction by Jenny Lister, the publication is divided in two three main sections, echoing the exhibition:
- The Actress – In 1955 Grace Kelly was acknowledged as 'Queen of Hollywood' and this chapter explores the garments and accessories selected for Ms Kelly's film roles. The Actress is supplemented by three designer profiles by Samantha Erin Safer: Helen Rose, Oleg Cassini and Edith Head.
- The Bride – This section looks at the wedding outfits, for the civil and religious ceremonies, both designed by Helen Rose, as well as Kelly's wedding trousseau. Haugland provides excellent descriptions of the wedding dresses and the garments that made up the trousseau. This chapter features Safer's profiles of Lanvin, Christian Dior, Maggy Rouff and Hubert de Givenchy.
- The Princess – Haugland shows how the princess adapted her preferred styles to suit her new role as royal princess. This section is enhanced by designer profiles for Christóbal Balenciaga, Marc Bohan, Gabrielle Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Madame Grès.
Grace Kelly Style – About the Authors
- H. Kristina Haugland is Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She is also the author of Grace Kelly: Icon of Style to Royal Bride published in 2006 to accompany an exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art entitled Fit for a Princes: Grace Kelly's Wedding Dress.
- Jenny Lister is Curator of Nineteenth-Century Textiles and Fashion at the V&A and has been associated with other publications including Swinging Sixties (V&A Museum, 2006).
- Samantha Erin Safer, formerly Assistant Curator of the Fashion and Textile Museum, London, is co-author of My Favourite Dress (2009, ACC Editions) and a contributor to Lucile Ltd (V&A Museum, 2009).
This fascinating 112-page hardback publication (ISBN: 978-1-851-775996, £19.99) provides a unique insight into the life and style of Grace Kelly and the designers she patronised.
Grace Kelly Style is written in descriptive language accessible to everyone, produced on good quality paper, and enhanced with excellent photography including 60 colour, and 40 black and white illustrations. Further information is available from the V&A Museum.
Related Article:
The exhibition, which will be on view until 26th September 2010, is discussed in detail in an article entitled: Grace Kelly Style Icon – Fashion for a Hollywood Princess.
Frances Spiegel - Frances Spiegel, B.A. Hons. (Open)., Dip.Eur.Hum., read Art History/European Modern History at the Open University.
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