Some of the world’s most famous dresses can be found among a collection in unassuming Kildare.
Tucked right next to the year - round Christmas section of the Newbridge Silverware entrepot , in Kildare , Ireland , sit a wide rug - covered stairwell to the construction ’s 2nd trading floor . As you climb the burgundy steps , an elegant dress begins to come into view . It has a wide neckline in dandelion yellow , adorned with colorful poppy , and it is in a flash recognizable to any film buff — it is , in fact , the Givenchy attire that was wear by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 filmFunny Face .
This is one of many historic dresses housed inthe Museum of Style Icons , a slash of archive account that ’s destitute to get into to anyone who stops by the silverware store — which has been in clientele for 90 twelvemonth — downstairs . walk around the museum , you ’ll see Princess Diana ’s infamous retaliation frock — a silken , kind - fit silk figure designed by Christina Stambolian and wear out in 1994 by the recent princess .
Each apparel is house in a bubble shaped window — Tippi Hedren ’s iconic green dress fromThe Birds , Liza Minnelli ’s sequined turnout fromCabaret , one of Elizabeth Taylor ’s voluminous dress fromRaintree County , even one of the only unadulterated solicitation of costume worn by all four member of the Beatles live on the second story of this storage warehouse - style building .
Princess Diana’s revenge dress is one of many archival fashion pieces on display at the Museum of Style Icons in Kildare, Ireland.|Jayne Fincher/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
It ’s an entirely unexpected discovery . If you did n’t know the museum was there , it would be easy to overlook entirely . Kildareis a 40 - minute private road out of doors of Dublin and it ’s a town perhaps most famous for its castle accommodations or being home to theIrish National Stud . But for anyone who is an enthusiast of archival fashion , regal chronicle , or pop culture , this museum is worth the drive from Ireland ’s chapiter city .
Aileen O’Brien is the spokesperson for the museum — and one of its greatest supporters . As she give way me a turn of the museum , her eye lit up as she discussed the story of the museum , and divulge central trifle about each clothes .
“ Tippi Hedren was telling us about the green clothes that she wore inThe boo , ” O’Brien says . “ you may clearly see on the costume where big threads are perpetrate from where they ’ve been literally attack by birds . That ’s mad . It ’s really redolent , it makes the hair remain firm up on the back of your neck opening and it ’s such an immersive experience . ”
Princess Diana’s wedding dress.|Courtesy of Newbridge Silverware
Unlike the popular fashion exhibits on display atthe Met Museum in New York , you wo n’t have to wade through one C of people so as to look up to the clothes here , either . While the Museum of Style Icons does average out about 350,000 visitant per class , a sojourn on the average rainy good afternoon might only host a few other people .
The museum was founded “ almost by accident , ” O’Brien says . William Doyle , the silverware storage ’s owner , and his married woman Monica were on holiday in 2006 , when Monica Doyle take a magazine article about Hepburn ’s bootleg clothes fromBreakfast at Tiffany’sgoing up for auction . Deciding it might be a good attractiveness for the showroom on prompting from his wife , Mr. Doyle go to the Sotheby ’s auction to taste and buy it , only to terminate up in a bidding warfare with an anonymous emptor — when the cost of the little number strike $ 600,000 , Doyle had to back out . He later learn that he was in a bidding state of war with Hubert de Givenchy himself . or else , at the same auction , Doyle purchase another petty pitch-dark dress designed by Givenchy for Hepburn — the peplum bead one Hepburn wore for 1963 filmCharade , in which she star across from Cary Grant .
The clothes apace became an attraction in and of itself — and Newbridge Silver , which had previously struggled to survive pivots from only producing silverware to also bring forth jewelry and other fine silver gray point , had in conclusion found a way to bring more base traffic into the entrepot .
Princess Diana’s revenge dress.|Courtesy of Newbridge Silverware
Over time , the relevancy of Newbridge in the fashion and archive world has only grown . Fashion icon Naomi Campbell became the human face of the brand in 2015 and she was the subject of an exhibition showcasing her wear and costumes through the class . Olivia Newton - John came to visit in 2019 . At one period , the notorious attire fatigue by Marilyn Monroe for JFK ’s birthday , and then laterby Kim Kardashian at the Met Gala in 2022 , was housed at the museum .
And still , by from the staircase off to the left wing of the automatic slew door entering into the Newbridge Silverware store , there are n’t too many signals indicating that so much extravagant history sits right off the curving roads of Kildare . The front half of the complete silver corset that Campbell wore for her 2015 safari is the exception , and guest can pose for picture with it . ( The arresting creation did not cover the expanse of my body . ) The ornate stays away , the museum still experience like a true hidden gem — somewhere to take in the delightful details of the ( shockingly small ) starlets of yesteryear .
For the next year , the museum will be embracing its Irish mount — its newest exhibit , Iconic Costumes of the Irish Silver Screen , is in partnership with the Irish Costume Archive Project and it is showcasing costume either worn in Irish plastic film , designed by Irish costume decorator , or worn by Irish actors . Clothing on display includes piece from more recent serial and movies likeNormal People , The Banshees of Inisherin , andFar Away , too .
An archival image of what the Newbridge Silverware store looked like when it still specialized in producing silverware.|Courtesy of Newbridge Silverware
" We invite visitors to enter on a journey through the captivating world of Irish cinema , " says William Doyle , about the newfangled showing . " These costume not only reflect the type and narrative of our films but also celebrate the endowment and workmanship of Irish costume designers . It is our honor to host this exhibition and to fete Ireland ’s deep cinematic heritage . "
Later this summertime , there will also be another Princess Diana exhibit , culminate in a live auction to be held in the museum on June 27 . fundamentally , any clip you visit , there will always be something exciting to see — whether that ’s a gown worn by royalty or someone so famous they may as well have been royal house .
“ There ’s always something interesting there between the lasting collection and the tonic - ups , ” O’Brien says . “ It has draw in everybody from prince to politician to movie star , who were just as enthralled to see these garment as much as we were . ”
The entrance to the Newbridge Silverware store in Kildare, Ireland.|Courtesy of Newbridge Silverware
To take in all the archival fashion , you may take aneasy 24-hour interval trip from Dublin — set away a few time of day for the museum , and then take some metre to barricade atthe on - site Silver Restaurant , which feels like its very own movie lay out with Tiffany sorry and white striped ceilings , rattan chairs , and black and ashen checker floors . Plus , before you go , you’re able to still find some like an expert crafted silverware on the showroom floor . Plan your own sojourn at theNewbridge Silverware website .
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