Princess Sirivannavari Pays Tribute to an Iconic Royal Fashion During France State Visit

On 28 June 2026, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya wore an elegant polka-dot daytime ensemble crafted from Thai silk while welcoming Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand upon their arrival in the French Republic for a State Visit.

The ensemble was tailored by National Artist Theeraphan Wannarat of Tirapan Couture and was inspired by one of the most iconic daytime dresses worn by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother during Thailand's historic royal diplomacy in the early 1960s.

The original design was created by renowned French couturier Pierre Balmain for the House of Balmain as part of its Spring 1960 collection. According to the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit personally selected the design and graciously requested modifications to the original textile print before it was produced. Distinguished by its elegant silhouette and an open-back overskirt that revealed the fitted dress beneath while in motion, the ensemble became one of the defining royal fashions of the era.

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit first wore the dress during the State Visit to the United States in 1960, including a televised interview at the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) studios on 1 July 1960. The ensemble was later worn again during the State Visit to the Commonwealth of Australia in 1962, further cementing its place in the history of Thai royal fashion. 

By reinterpreting this historic design in Thai silk, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari honors Thailand's royal heritage while presenting the enduring elegance, craftsmanship, and contemporary relevance of Thai textiles to the international community.

Source: Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles; Facebook Page ผ้าไทยใส่ให้สนุก (Phathaisaihasanook).