REVIEW: Dress Codes at Kensington Palace

This smallish exhibition upstairs at Kensington Palace looks at the messages we convey through what we wear. As you would expect, there is some wonderful kit on display to make the point.

Look at Queen Victoria's famous black mourning dress. Then see at what Queen Alexandra wore after the death of her husband and son. White and mauve symbolised mourning too.

Exquisite gowns wore by society gals presented at court, most of them young but not all. There is one glorious outfit was worn by a lady of 59!

Fashion highlights include the Duke of Windsor's iconic double breasted suits (jacket made in Saville Row, trousers in New York), a fabulously funky dress Princess Margaret wore to the Philippines and a couple of Princess Diana statement pieces.

Wartime thrift is on display in the let-down hems on the dresses of the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.

What really marks this show out though is the collaboration with 25 'Young Producers' (aged between 14 and 17) from local youth organisations. Clearly integral to the curation of the exhibition, their responses to the outfits are shown under the exhibits. In the final room, 'Resetting the Codes' is a display of their own work - a catwalk of statement fashion pieces and poems, music, songs.

Older teens with an interest in fashion will find it fascinating and empowering.

Dress Codes: Decoding the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection Kensington Palace 10 March–30 Nov. Free with Palace entry.