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 midcentury 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/rei...

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

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