Fashion Design
Fashion Design
1982 (made), 1982 (made)
1982 (made), 1982 (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 glued to card |
| Brief description | Ian Thomas; fashion design for Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, 1982 |
| Physical description | Image of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands wearing an elaborate blue ruffled evening gown designed by Ian Thomas, on white paper mounted on yellow card. There is a photograph of Queen Beatrix (wearing this gown) and Queen Elizabeth II stuck to this design. |
| 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 |
| Object history | This gown was designed for Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to wear during her State Visit to the United Kingdom in 1982. |
| 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.2883-2016 |
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| Record created | December 9, 2016 |
| Record URL |
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