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Costume conservation: My Fair Lady – Eliza Doolittle | V&A

Published on Tue, Nov 8th 2022 Education Rectangular HD

This fragile silk costume was once worn on the West End stage by Julie Andrews in her role as Eliza Doolittle – star of the classic musical My Fair Lady. Designed by iconic designer and photographer Cecil Beaton, the exquisite ballgown was influenced by Beaton’s glamorous mid-century fashion photography. Follow the gown’s transformation in our Conservation studio, as we prepare it for display in our Theatre and Performance galleries.

00:00 What is ‘My Fair Lady’?
00:56 Looking at the dress in detail
02:00 Mounting concerns and solutions
03:26 Examining the dress and deciding conservation process
04:58 Dyeing silk crepeline
06:51 Cecil Beaton costume designs
08:02 Catherine Zuber, costume designer of 2018 adaptation
08:51 Supportive straps
09:42 Final mounted dress

The costume can be seen as part of the Re:Imagining Musicals display until November 2023.

Discover more about the Re:Imagining Musicals display: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/reimagining-musicals

More about My Fair Lady: https://myfairladymusical.co.uk/

Take a look at our costume collection: https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/costume