Costume pays court to the Palace of Versailles for an exhibition entitled Court Pomp and Royal Ceremony, which is to be held from March 31st until June 28th, 2009. This exhibition is dedicated to court dress and to the influence of French fashion in European courts.

A true testament to court life in the 17th and 18th centuries, only the Palace of Versailles could house the first exhibition comprising more than 200 exceptional exhibits. Under the Ancien Régime, all the courts of Europe paid tribute to and copied the brilliance of French luxury and finery, establishing the reputation of Paris as the capital of fashion.

Since the French collections have now disappeared, most of the exhibits come from the collections of the major European museums : the Victoria and Albert in London, the Hermitage in St Petersburg, the Royal Armoury in Stockholm, the Green Vault in Dresden and Rosenborg Castle in Denmark, which are lending some of their exhibits for the first time. A collection of jewels, accessories and original paintings will accompany the procession of magnificent costumes which have seduced the fashion house CHANEL, sponsor of the exhibition.

According to Karl Lagerfeld, << Dressing to rule sums up the spirit of this exhibition to perfection [...] Dazzling the people was the best way to keep them at a distance. This style of dress created barriers that were almost impassable >>. Along with the court dress a truly political language developed, whose prime function was to translate visually the hierarchy of power on different occasions : consecrations, coronations, weddings, ceremonies of royal orders.

The luxurious materials, fabrics, embroidery, lace, trimmings and collections of jewels and precious stones, allow the court clothing to be adapted to different occasions. The costumes, bound by the formality of court étiquette, thus stand out like a showcase for the luxury trade, making use of its technical and aesthetic innovations.

The site dedicated to the exhibition :

About the Palace of Versailles :

The Palace and the gardens of Versailles are among the most famous World Heritage sites and represent the most beautiful and the most complete realization of 17th century French art.