Princes Margaret’s daughter Lady Sarah Chatto enjoyed a glimpse of the exquisite gown her mother wore on her 21st birthday, as she toured a new Dior exhibition at the V&A in London.
Lady Sarah, 54, the daughter of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, attended a gala dinner to celebrate the opening of Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, which runs until July and houses the largest collection of the designer’s couture ever seen in the UK.
The royal took time to admire the detail on the stunning sequinned gown and pearls, which is the exhibition’s standout piece, that her mother wore for her official birthday portrait taken by Sir Cecil Beaton in 1951.
Lady Sarah Chatto, pictured with her husband Daniel Chatto, attends a preview of the largest ever Christian Dior exhibition in the UK at the V&A museum in Kensington today. Lady Sarah, 54, took time to admire the stunning Dior gown her mother, Princess Margaret, wore for her 21st birthday in 1951
Joining Lady Chatto and Daniel Chatto at the gala dinner celebrations were Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon pictured second from left) and David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (far right)
The standout piece of the collection is undoubtedly this sequinned Christian Dior gown, worn by Princess Margaret as she celebrated turning 21 back in 1951
She wore the dress in 1951 for her official 21st birthday portrait (pictured) by royal photographer Cecil Beaton. Princess Margaret is said to have formed a strong bond with the designer after meeting him in 1949
Princess Margaret is said to have formed a strong bond with Dior after meeting him in 1949, and bought many of his pieces over the years.
Lady Sarah, looked suitably chic in a black satin a-line skirt with a cream cardigan and an extravagant set of pearls as she toured the exhibition with her husband, who donned a tuxedo for the event.
Dresses worn by the likes of Margot Fonteyn and Jennifer Lawrence are set to go on display at the UK’s largest ever Christian Dior exhibition.
The iconic pieces will be shown as part of the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibit at the V&A museum in south Kensington, London, from February 2.
Sumptuous dresses line the walls of the retrospective which has 11 different sections, including one dedicated to the fashion designer’s love of England.
Dior, who died in 1957, once said: ‘There is no other country in the world, besides my own, whose way of life I like so much.
‘I love English traditions, English politeness, English architecture. I even love English cooking.’
A gala dinner officially opened the exhibition, which will welcome in the general public on the 2nd February (Pictured: Nicholas Coleridge, Daniel Chatto, Lady Sarah Chatto, Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon, David Armstrong Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowden and Georgia Metcalfe)
Princess Margaret’s 21st birthday dress next to a photograph of her wearing it in 1951: the white gown has been discoloured by time
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, at the V&A museum in Kensington, London, is split into 11 sections
Pictured: the Diorama corridor, which features magazine covers on one side and miniature dresses on the other
One of the sections in the exhibition, which is the UK’s largest ever dedicated to the designer, is dedicated to Dior’s love of England
Dior once said: ‘There is no other country in the world, besides my own, whose way of life I like so much. ‘I love English traditions, English politeness, English architecture. I even love English cooking’
The Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition will run from February 2 until July 14, 2019
Pictured: more colourful miniature clothing items and accessories in the Diorama corridor
Another highlight of the incredible exhibition is the section dedicated to ballroom gowns, featuring dresses over a 70-year period
The exhibition is based on Christian Dior: Couturier du Rêve, organised by the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, curated by Olivier Gabet and Florence Mϋller
Oriole Cullen, fashion and textiles curator at the V&A, curated this exhibition and added the section focussing on Dior’s love of England
Pictured: a mannequin in a sumptuous ballgown holding a Christian Dior fan
The exhibition also explores Christian Dior’s extensive travel in his lifetime
Pictured: sketches and designs alongside shoes at the exhibition in south Kensington, London
A gallery assistant poses with some of the designer pieces on display at the exhibition
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams is the V&A’s biggest fashion exhibition since Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty in 2015
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams will run at the V&A from February 2 until July 14, 2019.