In 1990, Kiri performed at three ‘Homecoming’ concerts throughout New Zealand. Some 300,000 people came to these outdoor events, taking operatic singing into an arena normally occupied by rock stars and pop music. Kiri’s elegant bare-necked dresses suited the drama of her performances – but not always the fickle New Zealand weather.

In this last decade Dame Kiri has seen two milestones – her fiftieth birthday and her performance for HM Queen Elizabeth II’s fiftieth Jubilee. As always, Kiri worked closely with her designers to create dresses for these events. From the high drama of her ornate
birthday dress to the slim elegance of the Jubilee dress, Kiri continues to reinvent her stage presence through fabric and design.

Top Photo: 'Mary Mary' dress worn for the Christchurch Homecoming concert, 1990. Photograph by Albert Watson.
Bottom Photo: Wearing the 'Jellybean' dress, 1990. The Dominion Post Collection Alexander Turnbull Library.