So, Iris and I headed up to Bendigo
for Mother’s Day, to see an exhibition at the Bendigo Art
Gallery
I suggested it to Mum a while ago, thinking it would be
something she’d enjoy. She was enthusiastic
about it, but didn’t say too much as the event came closer.
So, here am I thinking ‘fuck… I hope she likes this, and
I’m not dragging her along to something she’ll suffer though in silence.’
I couldn’t have been more wrong. I near had to drag her out of the place.
On the drive up there, Mum said that she remembered Grace
Kelly during her Hollywood years (Mum would
have been in her very late teens/early twenties, at the time). She said that she thought she was just so
beautiful; a real, natural beauty. Just
like Elizabeth Taylor; stunning beauties.
She rattled off some of the movies she had seen,
especially Rear Window, To Catch A Thief and High Society. She remembered her pictures in magazines all
the time. She remembered that so many
women, including herself, loved her beauty and fashion.
Mum said that her name reflected her nature: she was just…
graceful.
She also remembered that just about every woman out there
wanted to marry a Prince and live happily every after; just like Grace Kelly.
The exhibition featured a lot of outfits and dresses that
she wore during both her Hollywood career (including the one she wore to the
Oscars in 1955, when she won an Academy Award for Best Actress for The Country Girl), and her time as
Princess of Monaco.
It even has her magnificent wedding dress and shoes on
display, as well as a few select pieces of Cartier and Harry Winston jewellery,
included a crown that belonged to the Crown Princess of Monaco, Prince Rainer’s
(Grace’s husband’s) mother, which Grace had worn herself.
I was astonished at the history in these items. A gorgeous outfit from High Society, the last film she ever made (apart from the film of
her marriage), Rear Window (I
actually remember the scene in which she wore that very dress), and many
others.
However, the most amazing gowns are from her royal
period. Gowns designed by Dior,
Balenciaga, Givenchy, Chanel and Yves St Laurent, in styles and designs that
are typically reflective of their periods (1950’s, 60’s & 70’s).
It’s surreal to stand there and look at a photograph of
Princess Grace standing in the dress, and then see it behind glass directly in
front of you. The dresses are stunning,
but seem lifeless without the soul of Grace in them.
Again, the history is amazing. Some of these dresses are now nearly sixty
years old, and are in pristine condition.
They look like they’ve never been worn, yet she wore some of those
dresses several times. She had her
favourites, and wore them again and again.
The fashion then was so different to now. Now, it’s all about fake tans, fake boobs, flesh
and crass behaviour.
Back then, during the golden years of Hollywood
Apparently, Princess Grace use to do her own hair, makeup
and nails, and was more concerned about wearing clothes that suited her
personality and style, and didn’t necessarily conform to the demands of current
fashion.
Understandable attitude when you’re the person setting the
trends.
With flawless skin, gossamer hair, a beautiful figure and
perfect features, it was no wonder Princess Grace was one of the most
photographed women of the 20th century.
She’s had such an amazing impact on fashion, and she’s
certainly made an impact on history itself.
Thirty years after her tragic passing, we still remember her so well.
As I stood back and watched Iris waddle her way through
the crowds of people with her walking frame so she could get closer to the
glass displays, I couldn’t help but smile.
I could see a young woman standing there looking up at these dresses,
lost in a mixture of admiration and memories.
These were the times and fashions that young Iris grew up
with. Periods where people wore dresses
below the knees, matching hats, bags and shoes, and of course: white
gloves. A lady never stepped out without
her gloves.
Here was a woman that spent years making clothes and
working with fabrics, standing there admiring the cut of these dresses and the
beautiful, lavish fabrics. At one point,
she turned to me and said ‘You would think they wouldn’t have her wear a dress
with a puckered seam down the front, would you?’
I laughed. Only
someone with dressmaking knowledge, and knowledge of fabrics would pick
that. Forget that Princess Grace of Monaco
It had a pucker down the front seam. Bless.
For Iris, I think that trip down memory lane was over too
quickly. She reminisced over some movie
posters before we finally left the life of Grace Kelly behind us, and entered
the cold reality of a chilly Bendigo
Whether you’re a lover of Hollywood history, a student or
admirer of couture fashion, or just love the idea of ‘the Grace Kelly story’; if
you have the opportunity, take a trip to the beautiful city of Bendigo Bendigo Art Gallery
Peace out.
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