ABSTRACT
The British couturier Sir Norman Hartnell is remembered today for his silk crinoline gowns in pastel colours decorated with his signature beaded embroideries, which were executed at the couture house in London’s only in-house embroidery atelier. Hartnell designed clothes for the principal female members of the royal family to wear at state occasions from 1937, the most famous of which was the gown Elizabeth II wore at her coronation in 1953. Hartnell also provided a working wardrobe for his society clientele for a social life that revolved around their town (London) and country homes, and the various events they attended as part of the British social season. A typical Hartnell client needed a selection of tailored dress and coat ensembles, ball gowns and cocktail dresses for the season between May and the end of July, as well as tweed suits for country sporting events. These she chose from his twice-yearly couture fashion collections.
