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
