In the post-war period, the creation of the Parisian couturier Christian Dior’s so-called ‘New Look’ ushered in a style of luxurious femininity with a narrow waist and full hips accentuated by volumes of fabric. The style caused an international sensation, which other fashion designers immediately responded to, including the favoured royal couturier, Norman Hartnell. This glamorous evening dress is typical of those worn by The Queen in the late 1940s and early 1950s.