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Fashion Design

Fashion Design
20th century (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

Category
Object type
TitleFashion Design (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Drawn in pencil, then coloured in ink and watercolour.
Brief description
Ian Thomas; fashion design, late 20th century
Physical description
Image showing a partial figure wearing a blue dress, with box pleats at front, a white hat and white elbow length gloves, with a double row of white pearls worn as a necklace.

Design is slightly crumpled and has in the past been folded causing 4 fold lines to run across the drawing.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.2cm
  • Width: 5cm
Design is irregular in shape
Style
Production typeDesign
Credit line
Given by Michael Talboys
Object history
Given by Ian Thomas to his close friend Michael Talboys. Michael Talboys worked 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.384-2017

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Record createdMay 23, 2017
Record URL
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