This costume was created for comedian Billy Dainty, one of the best pantomime dames of the 1970s and 1980s, as Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington in 1984. The costumier Paddy Dickie made the costume, with head-dress and hat-maker John Brooking making the hat - and his mother making the pom-pom.

Many costumes for pantomime dames are sight gag costumes, signalling something about the character but also creating laughter by their clever design or simply by being over-the-top. This costume is the 'ruined' version of the smart sailor suit which Sarah wears when she sets out to sea (S.287-1989). When the ship is wrecked her outfit suffers badly: there are holes and tears in the sleeves and tights (all neatly covered with flesh-coloured net), her jacket and skirt are hung with seaweed, her hair has uncurled, and clinging to the costume are various sea creatures. That the 'tears' in the edges of the collar, skirt and the spotted bloomers (S.290-1989) are so formal only adds to the fun, as do the delicate positioning of the lobster and crab and the now sagging striped tights. It is the perfect 'gag' costume.

Billy Dainty was one of the last dames to have his own costumes - today most costumes are provided by the production management. John Brooking remembers him having the ideas for his costumes that he discussed with Paddy and she executed, sometimes without an intermediate designer.