Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part V

[Kate_S]

I hope this has not been posted before, but the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum (FIDM) in New York has an interesting dolman jacket of the 1870s which belonged to Queen Alexandra:



It is made of cashmere, silk braid and metallic thread.

[Kate_S]

Sorry I meant to add to that post that this is one of a number of Alexandra related items that FIDM have acquired including some tailor made jackets, an early blouse and a couple of dresses.  Very exciting!

[Eric_Lowe]

I think you must also include those dresses that Alexandra made in England to march those of her sister Dagmar in Russia, who had a big account with Worth. Those may not be made by the Couture house itself, but the style certainly was.

[Kate_S]

Yes there are some quotes that suggest Worth had a hand in the 'like-dressing' that the sisters indulged in during the Russian state visit in 1873 but other than that it was not a relationship that flourished!  None of her surviving garments are by Worth compared to Dagmar's and nothing in the wardrobe accounts bar one small order.  My theory is that Alexandra preferred some of the more unusual and lesser known couture houses which is why Morin Blossier were her favourite dressmaker from the 1880s.  She quite liked to be a little different I think.

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. I wonder where the dresses went after she died. I think the RF kept the important ones but the others ?

[Eric_Lowe]

Also wonder where the "matching dresses" went. I think she continue to wear matching dresses with Dagmar and even Queen Olga of Greece until very later in her life.

[Kate_S]

Her dressers and other members of her household were given some of them which is where most of them crop up in museums via family bequests.  A list of the garments to have survived was written by her dresser Mrs Giltrap which is now in the Royal Archive and details everything that was in the wardrobe in Sandringham and Marlborough House.  Some things were auctioned in the US in the 1930s but as to the rest............

[Eric_Lowe]

I think Maud might have taken some back to Norway or to Appleton House. Her own clothes collection was quite impressive too and the only child of Alexandra that shared her mother's taste in fashion and clothes.

[Kate_S]

There are only three garments in Oslo - a fur jacket and a Morin Blossier dress and cloak so not a tremendous amount there.  It certainly is intriguing since over the decades her wardrobe was large even as it evolved and things were sold or given away.  Exhibition plans are underway so hopefully as many of her clothes as possible will be shown together.

[Eric_Lowe]

Looking forward to those. I read Alexandra also gave away lots of things in her old age...

[Grace]

I think Maud might have taken some back to Norway or to Appleton House. Her own clothes collection was quite impressive too and the only child of Alexandra that shared her mother's taste in fashion and clothes.

All Alexandra's children were pretty sharp dressers, not just Maud. 

[Eric_Lowe]

Really ? Don't think Toria or Louise in later age was a sharp dresser...

[CountessKate]

[quote ]Exhibition plans are underway so hopefully as many of her clothes as possible will be shown together.  [/quote]

Kate, you mentioned something of this a long time ago, and I have been longing to hear more!  Is the exhibition planned for a UK venue? 

[Eric_Lowe]

Love to hear more of a UK exhibition.

[Grace]

Really ? Don't think Toria or Louise in later age was a sharp dresser...

Well, at least interested in personal presentation and smartness, if not actual fashion trends.