From Exile to Avant-Garde: The Life of Princess Natalie Paley Lecture Series

Set against the backdrop of an exhibition of the same name, this four-part lecture series delves into the glamour and complexity of Princess Natalie Paley, a Russian émigré who became a muse and fashion icon in Paris and New York. Each session features a specialist speaker exploring a different facet of her life—from her parents’ forbidden romance in Belle Époque Paris to her own impact on twentieth-century fashion, her place on the International Best-Dressed List, and the avant-garde circle she cultivated at her Connecticut home, “Pebbles.” The series runs over four weeks in October 2026 at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Garden, with evening talks that include time for audience engagement.

When: Wednesdays 8 October and 29 October, and Tuesdays 14 and 21 October 2026, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm (except the final lecture on 29 October, which ends at 7:30 pm).

Schedule: Lecture 1 – “Princess Natalie Paley in Twentieth-Century Fashion: From Paris to New York” with curator Megan Martinelli on Wednesday 8 October, 5:30–8:00 pm. Lecture 2 – “The International Best-Dressed List: The Official History” with Amy Fine Collins (including a book signing) on Tuesday 14 October, 5:30–8:00 pm. Lecture 3 – “The Belle Époque Life in Paris: Olga Paley and Paul of Russia and their Avant-Garde Daughter, Princess Natalie Paley” with Dr. Wilfried Zeisler on Tuesday 21 October, 5:30–8:00 pm. Lecture 4 – “Paley, Pebbles, and the Connecticut Avant-Garde” with Kenneth Silver on Wednesday 29 October, 5:30–7:30 pm.

Tickets: Price per lecture ranges from $0 to $22, with the exact cost likely depending on membership status or advance purchase; the page does not specify a single series price. Tickets can be purchased online for each individual lecture via the “Purchase” links.

Lineup: Megan Martinelli (Curator of Textiles, Apparel, Jewelry, and Accessories at Hillwood), Amy Fine Collins (author/historian), Dr. Wilfried Zeisler (Chief Curator and Deputy Director at Hillwood), and Kenneth Silver (art historian/lecturer).

Run time: Each lecture runs approximately 2.5 hours (2 hours for the final lecture), including the presentation and any Q&A or book-signing portion.

Ages: Not specified; likely suitable for adult audiences interested in fashion, art, and history.

Venue: Hillwood Estate, Museum & Garden, located in Washington, D.C.

Note: This series complements the exhibition “From Exile to Avant-Garde: The Life of Princess Natalie Paley” on view at Hillwood during the same period.