Fashion Design
Fashion Design
1987 (made), 1988 (made)
1987 (made), 1988 (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.’
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 | |
| Title | Fashion Design (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Drawn in pencil and ink then coloured in gouache, notes written in ink, on paper then cut out and stuck to card. |
| Brief description | Ian Thomas; fashion designs for Lady Miles, Mrs Victor Laws and Mrs Robert Maxwell, 1987 and 1988 |
| Physical description | Images of 3 woman wearing garments designed by Ian Thomas, designs on white paper and then cut out and glued to bright pink card. The designs (from left to right) show a woman in a white and black dress with leg of mutton sleeves, a belt with bow, peplum and tight fitting black skirt, the central design shows a woman wearing a wide brimmed hat in pink with a black bow, then a fitted skirt suit with peplum and black buttons, the final design shows a woman in a floor length grey gown with a drape from the left shoulder to right knee and swathe of material behind the left shoulder. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Design |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| 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.2881-2016 |
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| Record created | November 15, 2016 |
| Record URL |
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