The Fashion and Textile Museum know how to put on a good exhibition. I managed to catch this one - Hartnell to Amies: Couture By Royal Appointment - just before it finished. And wow was it worth it. It was a comprehensive celebration of Norman Hartnell Hardy Amies and Frederick Fox's life and work and how they impacted the world of fashion. The clothes speak for themselves, but it was the details that really made it for me, including gorgeous fashion illustrations and the most exquisite embellished swatches, including examples from the Queens wedding dress. To see these designs up close was just magical.
Hardy Amies, 1940 - A prince of Wales check fine woollen suit
Hardy Amies, circa 1962 - a abstract printed navy silk ensemble
Norman Hartnell circa 1957 - a black and white printed, silk three piece suit
Norman Hartnell, circa 1946 - An embroidered pale bronze satin evening dress
Norman Hartnell circa 1945 - and embroidered black silk velvet evening coat
Norman Hartnell circa 1952 - chartreuse beaded evening dress
Hardy Amies, circa 1952 - a layered grey chiffon evening dress with delicate bead and sequin embroidery
Norman Hartnell, 1953 - an embroidered sky blue and white silk faille evening dress with matching coat
Norman Hartnell, 1956 - Satin organza wedding dress, with silver corded lace bodice and appliqués. Created for Lady Anne Coke.
Hardy Amies, 1981 - a cream silk taffeta wedding dress, with long sleeve and a draped bustle
Hardy Amies, circa 1960 - a dark red and black printed glazed man-made satin cocktail dress
Norman Hartnell, circa 1962 - a black lace cocktail dress with full skirt and velvet bows
Hardy Amies, circa 1952 - a copper coloured strapless cocktail dress with a wide full pleated skirt
Norman Hartnell, circa 1966 - a brown silk satin, white and crystal bead, geometrically embroidered short evening dress
Hardy Amies, circa 1988 - an off white William Morris patterned evening dress
Hats created by Frederick Fox
Frederick Fox, 1977
Hardy Amies, circa 1980 - a pink chiffon and net embroidered cocktail dress
Norman Hartnell, 1950s - a selection of costume jewellery
Norman Hartnell, 1929 - an embroidered silk satin wedding dress, inspired by Boticelli's paintings in the National Gallery. Worn by Miss Oonagh Guinness
Norman Hartnell, 1957 - two examples of embroidery panels for dresses worn by the Queen on state visits.
Norman Hartnell, 1961 - further examples of embroidery panels fro dresses worn by the Queen
Norman Hartnell - Embroidery samples from the Queen's wedding dress
Hardy Amies illustrations
