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International Art Treasures Web Magazine November 2005 |
Queen Maud's WardrobeStyle and Splendor
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Regal fashion is always eye catching and cause for comments and currently highlights of the royal wardrobe of the Norwegian Queen Maud is on view at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London. |
November 26, 1869 King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, then the Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed their fifth and youngest child Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria into the world. At age 26 she married her cousin Prince Carl of Denmark and the couple lived in Copenhagen were their son Alexander was born. Carl had a career as a naval officer but that changed in 1905.
Title: Three Evening Gowns, 1907-9
Centre gown by Laferriere, Paris
The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design / Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Oslo
Photography by Tiegens Fotoatelier AS
Image Courtesy: The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
This year, 2005, Norway celebrates her Centennial. It was one hundred years ago that Norway and Sweden dissolved their political union. The new country, Norway, decided to become a monarchy and Prince Carl of Denmark was elected their King. One of his first acts was to change his name to Haakon and his son became Prince Olav. Maud became Queen Consort of Norway. A Queen needs a fitting royal wardrobe including a gown made for the coronation on June 22, 1906.
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Style and Splendor is a walk through the changing fashions from the Victoria Age through the 1930s. Some of the best known fashion houses are included such as Worth. It features the wedding trousseau, sportswear, evenings gown, day wear and the last gowns purchased from the House of Worth shortly before the Queen's death in 1938. |
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Queen Maud rode and skied throughout her life and her wardrobe required clothing suitable for these sporting endeavors. In the exhibit are early 20th Century riding and ski outfits. |
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The Englishman Charles Worth opened a fashion house in Paris. It's first year, 1858, he showed unsolicited designs on live models the first fashion show. Normally customers had the clothing made for them Worth changed the way of the fashion world with his promotional idea. It allowed the designer to choose what would be fashionable rather than the customer who made the final selection through their purchasing power. |
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Queen Maud was a patron of the House of Worth and Morin-Blossier in France, Redfern a British Company and the Norwegian dressmaker Sylvian. The quality of the clothing is a testament to their expertise. |
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In 1961 the Norwegian Royal Family donated Queen Maud's wardrode to the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo. A portion of this collection, approximately fifty outfits has been loaned to the Victoria and Albert Museum for Style and Splendor. |
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