Thursday 17 September, 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Talk, Women's Underpinnings in the 19th Century

Cosprop, 469-475 Holloway Rd, London N7 6LE, United Kingdom

Cosprop is one of the world’s most celebrated costume houses, renowned for its extraordinary contribution to film, television and theatre costume over the past six decades. Founded in 1965 by Academy Award-winning costume designer John Bright, the company has built an international reputation for its meticulous historical research, exceptional craftsmanship and unparalleled collection of period dress.

From its North London studios, Cosprop has supplied costumes for landmark productions including Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth, and numerous Merchant Ivory films including A Room with a View, for which Bright received the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Its vast archive includes original historic garments alongside costumes worn by actors including Meryl Streep, Ralph Fiennes and Nicole Kidman.

Today, a team of highly skilled cutters, makers, tailors, dyers and costume specialists continue Cosprop’s commitment to historically informed costume at the highest level, supplying productions across film, television, opera and theatre.

Event Description
From the Inside Out: Women’s Underpinnings in the 19th Century offers a fascinating exploration of the hidden structures that defined nineteenth-century fashion. Led by Cosprop costumier Clara Drumez, this illustrated talk examines the corsets, crinolines, petticoats, bustles and underlayers that created the dramatic silhouettes of the Victorian era and shaped the way clothing was worn and experienced.

Drawing on examples from Cosprop’s renowned costume stock, the event will reveal how these carefully engineered garments controlled posture, movement and proportion, forming the essential foundation for fashionable dress throughout the century. Visitors will have the rare opportunity to see authentic underpinnings and costume pieces up close while learning how contemporary costume makers recreate historical silhouettes for film and television today.

Combining dress history with practical costume insight, the talk offers a closer understanding of the craftsmanship, construction and technical knowledge hidden beneath the surface of period fashion.

Event Cancellation Policy
All bookings are non-refundable. However, if you let us know that you are unable to attend an event you have booked at least two weeks before the event, we will open up your place. If we find another participant, you will be offered a credit note.

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