Pencil sketch showing a full length design for a dress with a close fitting bodice and full skirt, possibly created by Cecil Beaton for the stage production of My Fair Lady, ca. 1958.

Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton, CBE (14 January 1904 – 18 January 1980) was an English fashion, portrait and war photographer, diarist, painter, interior designer and an Academy Award-winning stage and costume designer for films and the theatre.

The 1956 Broadway stage production of My Fair Lady was written by Alan Jay Lerner and based on George Bernard Shaw’s play ‘Pygmalion.’ The music was composed by Frederick Loewe and the production starred Rex Harrison as Professor Higgins and Julie Andrews as Eliza. Stanley Holloway, who played Eliza’s father, Alfred P. Dolittle and Zena Dare who performed the role of Mrs. Higgins, were also among the cast.

Cecil Beaton designed costumes for the stage production in 1956 and for the 1958 production at Drury Lane, both starring Julie Andrews. Beaton also designed the set and costumes for the 1963 film of My Fair Lady. This adaptation was directed by George Cukor, and featured Rex Harrison reprising his role as Professor Higgins, opposite Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Dolittle.

The production was set in circa 1912 and the costumes were inspired by the work of designers such as Paul Poiret and Lucile, as well as events such as the Black Ascot of 1910 when all those attending wore mourning dress to mark the recent death of King Edward VII. Whilst twenty additional costumes were created for the 1958 stage revival, and the designs were completely revised for the 1963 film, the famous black and white the black and white Ascot scene appeared in all three productions.