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Fashion Design

Fashion Design
1980s-92 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Ian Thomas is most well known for having been the Queen’s dress designer for over 20 years until his early death in 1992. Born in Oxford in 1929, he went onto study fashion at Oxford College of Art. On graduating in 1952, he worked as an assistant designer to Norman Hartnell, where he worked on Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation robes.

After 17 years working for Hartnell, Thomas opened his own couture business in Lowndes Street, Belgravia, in 1969. Under his own label he dressed many members of the royal family, notably making day and evening clothes for the Queen. Thomas was awarded a Royal Warrant as dressmaker in 1973. His success, according to The Independent lay in the fact that the Queen and ‘many members of society appreciated the restrained and understated elegance of his clothes.’


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleFashion Design (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Drawn in pencil and ink then coloured in gouache, notes written in ink
Brief description
Ian Thomas; fashion design probably for Queen Elizabeth II, 1980s-92
Physical description
Image of a woman wearing a hat, shirt and jacket designed by Ian Thomas. The woman wears a blue hat with white ribbon, the jacket double breasted in blue fabric with white spots, the skirt of the dress (top is not visible when jacket is worn) is pleated and knee length. A sketch in the lower right hand corner shows the top of th dress whcih shows it to be of the same materal as the jacket and coat.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41.85cm
  • Width: 29.6cm
Style
Production typeDesign
Marks and inscriptions
  • Ian Thomas
  • 12.
  • Prob Q. (On back)
Credit line
Given in memory of Mr Ian Thomas by his executors
Summary
Ian Thomas is most well known for having been the Queen’s dress designer for over 20 years until his early death in 1992. Born in Oxford in 1929, he went onto study fashion at Oxford College of Art. On graduating in 1952, he worked as an assistant designer to Norman Hartnell, where he worked on Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation robes.

After 17 years working for Hartnell, Thomas opened his own couture business in Lowndes Street, Belgravia, in 1969. Under his own label he dressed many members of the royal family, notably making day and evening clothes for the Queen. Thomas was awarded a Royal Warrant as dressmaker in 1973. His success, according to The Independent lay in the fact that the Queen and ‘many members of society appreciated the restrained and understated elegance of his clothes.’
Collection
Accession number
E.2853-2016

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Record createdNovember 15, 2016
Record URL
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