I stopped by Kensington Palace for a new exhibit called The Last Debutantes. The ritual of being presented at court and then embarking on a season and the marriage mart is something we Regency readers know all about. The tradition lasted until 1958, and the exhibit was about the process of preparation and lots and lots of parties.
A few of my favorite things:
1. I suspected there might be pretty dresses, and I was not disappointed. There was a gorgeous collection of gowns, as well as gentlemen’s clothes, and lots of ladies accessories (bras, shoes, handbags, stockings, gloves, compacts…)
2. A wall of “At Home” cards and invitations. Stunning. Enviable handwriting.
3. An instructional video on how to curtsey and a mirror to practice in front of.
4. Learning the slang. I actually got out my notebook to write these down.
FU: Financially Unsound
MTF: Must Touch Flesh (They did not explain why one used this phrase. Any ideas?)
NSIT: Not Safe In Taxis. (This, of course, referred to certain “gentlemen.”)
VVSITPQ: Very Very Safe In Taxis Probably Queer!
Because it was included in the admission price, my friend and I also checked out the rest of the place. The State Rooms were exactly what you would expect—very large, and very ornately decorated. More interesting to me were rooms created to resemble a modiste and a tailor’s shop. The modiste room was so dim (as it would have been in days of yore) that I practically got a migraine from looking at the embroidery, let alone actually creating it. The best part of the tailor’s shop was touching bolts of fabric that the gent’s garments were made of (surprisingly soft). Gotta love how no outfit was complete without a sword.
And one last favorite thing: the gift-shop.
