The social season of debutante parties and private balls,weddings and charity events has long provided Britain'sfashion designers with opportunities to design elaborate,tour de force eveningwear. In more recent years theballroom has been replaced by the red carpet. Thoughthe context has changed, the ballgown remains a staplein many designers' collections and continues to serveas an expression of status, protocol and taste, whilesimultaneously embodying elements of drama and fantasy. 'Takes us on a journey from thefirst debutante balls to AlexanderMcQueen' Marie Claire

Photographs by: David Hughes