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Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D , Case FD, Shelf 8

Fashion Design

Fashion Design
1970s-80s (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, 1970s-80s
Physical description
Image of a woman wearing a red dress, coat and hat designed by Ian Thomas. A small design to the right of the page shows only the red and white striped dress with a white belt at the waist and a bow at the neck, the central (larger) design shows the dress worn under a red double breasted coat and with a hat with a white crown and red and white striped brim.
Dimensions
  • Height: 44.95cm
  • Width: 29.4cm
Style
Production typeDesign
Marks and inscriptions
  • Silver buttons
  • Coat of 'double-face' material - no lining or padding
  • Also plain silk dress
  • Scarlet and white striped silk dress - front fastening in fly front.
  • Spot silk alternative
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.2868-2016

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Record createdNovember 15, 2016
Record URL
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