A new fashion exhibition titled “Silhouettes of Society A fashion exhibition through the decades” is set to open at Basildon Park near Reading this summer, offering visitors a glimpse into the stylish life of Lady Iliffe. Organised by the National Trust, the display will run from 13 June to 1 November 2026 and is included in the standard park admission fee.
The exhibition focuses on the life and personal style of Lady Iliffe, born Renée Merandon du Plessis in Mauritius. Alongside her husband, Lord Iliffe, she famously saved the 18th-century Palladian-style mansion and its surrounding 400 acres of parkland from demolition in the 1950s after the property had been used during World War II. The couple later donated the estate to the National Trust in 1978, though they remained living in the house’s South Pavilion until their deaths.
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to view a collection of photographs and clothing choices that highlight Lady Iliffe’s influence on the home’s interiors. The display aims to capture the glamorous socialite lifestyle the couple maintained at the property, which famously featured in a July 1966 photoshoot for Vogue magazine.
Sebastian Conway, the house and collections manager at Basildon Park, noted that the exhibition is an opportunity to celebrate the couple’s social side. According to the National Trust, the pair brought significant recognition to the site by hosting dazzling dinners and parties for celebrity guests throughout their time there.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
