Fashion Design
Fashion Design
1993 (made)
1993 (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
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Fashion Design (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Drawn in pencil, then coloured in ink and watercolour. Notes written and signed in ink. |
| Brief description | Ian Thomas; fashion design, 1993 |
| Physical description | Image showing two figures on the right and left of a green boarder; the left figure is complete and wears a coral hat and knee length coat, the right figure has few features and wears a jumper belted on the hips and pleated skirt in coral (accessorise gloves, belt and trimmings of garments are in white). |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Design |
| Credit line | Given by Michael Talboys |
| Object history | Given by Ian Thomas to his close friend Michael Talboys. Michael Talboys had worked with Ian Thomas at Norman Hartnell prior to Thomas setting up his own couturier. |
| 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.382-2017 |
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| Record created | March 13, 2017 |
| Record URL |
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