Period costume, embellishment, millinery & iPhones?

So what have the girls been wearing and where the heck did it all come from? We hope you enjoyed your first episode, sure it wasn’t perfect, but we will keep trying! So, about those fabulous dresses.

They were provided (hand made) by Kate Swindells, our stylist. Here is a little bit about her & the inspiration for the clothing:

She completed a degree in Costume Interpretation at Wimbledon School of Art in 2005, and has divided her time between teaching Textiles and Millinery and working on various projects for theaters, film and museums.

Her main area of interest is in period costume; from the research stages right through to exploring materials and embellishment techniques.

Over to Kate:

If I am interpreting a costume from a painting, I create a short story around the character. In ‘The Dancing Platform at Cremorne Gardens’ (Painted by Phebus Levin in 1864), I noticed a woman perched in the corner of the painting. I decided that she looked like a courtesan, entertaining the gentlemen that crowded around her and that her stunning bonnet was probably an expensive gift from an excursion in Paris with a wealthy gentleman suitor. My interpretation of the dress was worn by Hattie during this episode of Apps and Hats.

I am very particular about attention to detail and wherever possible use original materials, especially when it comes to trimmings; lace on under garments, buttons on a jacket, ribbons on a hat. Where this is not possible, I do my own; dying, distressing and breaking down of materials, until they fit the styles of the period they are intended for.

Since leaving University, I have had many different roles working with costumes, including making, buying, fitting, assisting stylists and alterations; for a range of media. I have been lucky enough to assist with costumes on Joe Wright’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, Roman Polanski’s ‘Oliver Twist’, Steven Spielberg’s ‘Munich’, I have worked in theaters in England and Copenhagen and done alterations on tour with Girls Aloud and Westlife.

Hope you are impressed as we are *PHEWS* amazing list there Kate! So glad to have you on our team!

2 Responses to “Period costume, embellishment, millinery & iPhones?”

1. kelly says:

   April 5, 2011 at 8:57 am

   I was looking for something completely different,got your page Period costume, embellishment, millinery & iPhones? | Apps & Hats and found it Interesting.Nice Post on costume hats…
2. Apps, Hats and Girls - OH MY! | Natetronn says:

   April 3, 2009 at 7:16 pm

   [...] do know they are going to be sending allot of publicity to their costume designer Kate Swindells. The costumes are great! I wonder if they are going to be showcasing many other talents like Kate [...]

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