Remembering Olivia de Havilland

Wednesday 05 August 2020

Two Dior dresses that were worn by late Hollywood star Olivia de Havilland during visits to Guernsey have gone on display at the National Trust of Guernsey's Folk and Costume Museum.

Ms de Havilland, who has close family links to Guernsey, was part of the Golden Age of Hollywood and was the last surviving member of the Gone with the Wind cast.

She died aged 104 in late July and tributes have paid been both locally and across the world, including those in the film industry, where she is perhaps best known for her role as Melanie Hamilton in the 1939 classic. 

Pictured: The two Dior dresses that have been preserved by the National Trust of Guernsey and are being exhibited this week. 

The two Dior dresses on display come from the heyday of haute couture and were worn by Ms de Havilland when she visited the island in 1966, when Guernsey celebrated 900 years of association with Britain, and in 1970, when she was the guest of honour for an event at the Guernsey Folk Museum courtyard. 

Costume Curator Caro Drake said the dresses "would fit Olivia and no-one else".

"The finish, the tiny details and a lot that we just can't see are the signature of haute couture design and skills," she said. "Extra layers of fabric in the bodice give a smoother line together with hand finished seams, a silk lining to the skinny and an internal waist band that stopped the dress moving around the body.

????Don’t miss our Olivia de Havilland x Christian Dior dress exhibition starting at 10am tomorrow (Wednesday 5th)???? for 7 days ONLY we are displaying two beautiful Dior dresses worn by the “Last Lioness of Hollywood’s… https://t.co/NjMdGfKlyQ

— NT Guernsey Folk & Costume Museum (@NtFolk) August 4, 2020

"Most notably, the burnt orange cocktail dress contains a built-in bra and corset, with suspenders attached to the corset. In the monochrome dress, the bust underwire is covered in velvet to make it more comfortable.

"Once wearing one of these dresses, Ms de Havilland would have almost felt like she was wearing a second skin."

Folk and Costume Museum Manager Merrie Jee said was Ms de Havilland was an icon.

"It is an honour to have these dresses as most of her clothes are still in her estate, so it is quite rare that we still have them.

"As part of the Golden Age of Hollywood she did a lot for women’s rights, not just in film but in general."

Pictured: Folk and Costume Museum Manager Merrie Jee.

Miss Jee spoke about some of the ways that they safeguard the  condition of the dresses, which had some wear when they were first brought into the National Trust's care.

"We have to stop anything we can from getting on to them," she said. "We use acid-free tissue paper, acid-free cardboard boxes and lay them flat and out of sunlight. We are lucky to have such a nice place to keep them."

The seven-day costume exhibition starts today and more information about opening times and the exhibit itself can be found HERE. 

"The exhibit is such a nice thing to be able to do, especially at the moment as it has been a difficult period for a lot of people," said Miss Jee. "This is a celebration and there is a lot in our costume exhibit for people to come and see."

Pictured top: The Dior dresses on display for the next seven days.