27 March 2017 “Enter the World of Jane Austen” – Witham Group of W. I’s 

We will present our talk “Enter the World of Jane Austen” – Regency Costume Talk with Display for Witham Group of W. I’s 27th March 2017 at Washing-borough near Lincoln. A very interesting, lively, humorous and informative lecture about the design and construction of gowns I have created inspired by the Regency period. Beautifully costumed mannequins/dummies will accompany the talk. I will include several costumes and some underwear inspired by the period as well as a morning dress, afternoon dress and evening gowns.

2 May 2017 Regency Talk  – Rothbury WI

We are looking forward to presenting our Jane Austen talk for Rothbury WI. Our venue is the Rothbury Golf Club located across the river from the centre of picturesque Rothbury in Northumberland. We will present the talk in a large airy room with a superb backdrop of the rolling hills of Northumberland. My costume display will include superb reproduction Regency underwear based on extant of the period – a chemise, corset and pantalettes – I will illustrate how important it is to wear the correct foundation garments as the true period shape would be impossible to achieve without them.

5 July 2017 South Shields  – U3A

On 5 July, we will present our Regency Talk – Enter the World of Jane Austen’ for the U3A – The University of the Third Age. We had had a number of bookings for the U3A and always enjoy presenting events for them. We will present our talk in a large spacious hall in the centre of South Shields. The U3A is an organisation was established in South Tyneside in 2001 – it’s motto is ‘Friendship, Fun and Learning’. South Tyneside U3A offers many opportunities to explore new interests, expand old ones and learn something different. They believe in learning for fun rather than qualifications or exam results. We are also looking forward to presenting our new talk about Marie Antoinette for the U3A later this year. 

 2 October 2017    Marie Antoinette  – Bede of Jarrow U3A 

I am presenting a costume event for the University of the Third Age in Jarrow.  This is the third lecture I have presented for the U3A and the very first presentation of my lavish new talk about the 18^th century called ‘Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution’. An integral part of my new talk is a comparison between the large elaborate court gown worn by Marie Antoinette for formal court occasions and the more casual Chemise a la Reine which she preferred.  I will also include a superb costume display of mannequins wearing a La Robe Francaise, La Reine Chemise and reproduction 18^th Century underwear. 

https://u3asites.org.uk/bede/page/61618

La Robe Francaise

 12 October 2017    Regency Talk  – The Mansion House 

I am pleased to be presenting my talk ‘Enter the World of Jane Austen’ for the Mansion House in Doncaster. My Regency talk is a very interesting, lively, humorous and informative lecture about the design and construction of gowns I have created inspired by the regency period. Beautifully costumed mannequins/dummies will accompany the talk. Included are a very pretty white cotton afternoon dress for Jane Austen worn with bonnet, chemisette and velvet spencer,a sumptuous lilac silk ball gown embellished with gold lace – worn with a turban, fan and gloves and Regency Underwear – chemise, corset and pantalettes plus accessories. Also included is a very pretty morning dress and an exquisite gold-encrusted court gown inspired by Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. I also will be assisted by a Regency Gentleman wearing a silk waistcoat, shirt and cravat.

http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/Events/enter-the-world-of-jane-austen-with-julia-soares-mccormick

Saturday 9 December 2017 – Marie Antoinette – Tee-side WI 

This will be my second presentation of my fabulous event about Marie Antoinette.  I will include a Pink Silk Court Gown worn with fabulous wig adorned with towering feathers, a very pretty romantic white cotton dress worn with Hedgehog wig and Bergere (shepherdess style) hat and 18th Century inspired underwear.  The underwear includes a corset, a chemise and two types of panniers – the pocket hoops and the Grand pannier which held out the very wide skirts! 

Chemise a la Reine

 10 March 2018   Marie Antoinette  – East Yorkshire Embroidery Society   

On Saturday 10 March, I will be presenting my new talk about Marie Antoinette and her costumes for the East Yorkshire Embroidery Society.  I will be including a fabulous costume display and also some very interesting information about Marie Antoinette herself. I have already presented both my Tudor and Regency talks for the group and I am sure they will enjoy this new talk.  They are a lovely group who are very interested and informed about costume. I am really looking forward to presenting it.

https://eyes-embroidery.co.uk/201617-programme/

13 March 2018  Marie Antoinette  – Royal Scots Club Edinburgh

I always enjoy presenting my talks for the Royal Scots Club.  They really enjoyed my Regency Talk a couple of years ago and I am sure they will enjoy my new talk inspired by clothing worn in the 18^th Century.  The Royal Scots Club is located in a beautiful building in the heart of Edinburgh.

My new talk ‘Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution’ includes reproduction 18th Century costumes – they will include a very elaborate Pink Silk court dress ‘Robe a La Francaise’ worn with large ornate pompadour wig and accessories. A “Chemise a la Reine” a simple gown worn by Marie Antoinette herself – worn with a Bergere hat and powdered curled hair. Also 18^th Century Underwear – a beautiful silk boned corset, side panniers and petticoat.

5 April 2018     Marie Antoinette   – Dumfries Embroiderers’ Guild

I always enjoy vising Scotland as it is one of my favourite places so I am particularly pleased to be presenting my new talk about Marie Antoinette and Fashion there on Thursday 5 April 2018. I really enjoy presenting talks to Embroiderers Guilds as the ladies really enjoy anything connected to fashion and sewing. I will be including a number of costumes I have designed and made which were inspired by costumes of the 18^th century. I am looking forward to it!

https://dumfrieseg.wordpress.com/meetings/

Pink Silk Court Gown

It is the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare this year and his life and works  will be celebrated over the country.

William Shakespeare  was born in 1564  and died in April 1616 He was an English poet, playwright and actor and was widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist.

He is often called England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon”. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. In 2016 celebrations will commence in the United Kingdom and across the world to honour Shakespeare and his work.

Newcastle City Library will be joining in these celebrations and I am pleased to announce we have been booked to present our 16th Century inspired Fashion Show at Newcastle City Library.

We will present our show on Saturday 14 May  – our event is to be included as part of the popular ‘Late Shows’ which take place during the evening in the main library which is located in Newcastle City Centre.

We have already presented a number of events at the venue including costume talks and shows – it is a superb venue with wonderful facilities.We will present our Tudor Fashion Show show on the evening of 14 May- times to be confirmed.

My exciting show includes a eight exquisite costumes I have designed and created worn by models. They are accompanied by beautiful period music, a brief history of each historical figure and a talk about the design and construction of each costume.

My fashion show team consists of of eight people which includes four/five models.The show is both informative and interesting as well as humorous.

Our show presents King Henry VIII in full regalia arriving to a fanfare of trumpets, Queen Elizabeth I in an elaborate gold silk gown with decorative jewelled ruff, Queen Anne Boleyn wearing an elegant  blue silk/gold gown worn with a pearl trimmed French hood.

A stunning silk Peacock Blue dress with partlet for the young Mary Queen of Scots, a very attractive rose silk gown embroidered with gold for Queen Catherine Howard.

Also included are a stunning silver silk gown worn by Queen Jane Seymour or an elegant court costume with doublet, hat and sword for King James VI of Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots taking off her velvet robes to reveal her elegant execution gown is the dramatic finale to the show.

Please join us on 14 May for this celebration of Shakespeare – I am sure you will enjoy the show.

For more information click –  http://thelateshows.org.uk/2016/newcastle-city-library

I have just visited the ‘Royal Armouries’ in Leeds –  I made a special trip to see a number of costumes which were designed for and worn in the recent hit television series ‘The Tudors’. They are of great interest to anyone who designs costumes or likes to view clothing that has been created for stage/screen or television. 

The costumes on display included:-

A  Doublet and Breeches worn by Jonathan Rhys Meyers who played Henry VIII –  they have been made in heavy fabric appliqued with metallic trim.

A Black Velvet Gown worn by Catherine of Aragon – it is decorated with gold trim and pearls on the bodice.

The Grey Execution Gown of Anne Boleyn has a neckline of appliqued pearls and sleeves edged with black fur.

A Pink Dress worn by Jane Seymour with piped edging trimmed with gold beads and a bodice sewn with metallic lattice netting.

A regal Anne of Cleves Costume created with a lavishly beaded and embroidered velvet skirt.

The Katherine Howard Gown is designed in a patterned blue fabric embellished on the bodice with embroidery sewn with gold threads.

A Gold/Green Damask Gown decorated with gold braid was worn by Catherine Parr.

Also included is an Elizabeth I Dress in cream with delicate embroidery worn by her when a child.

They are part of over 500 costumes created for the series with many others borrowed from other productions. These costumes have been loaned to the ‘Royal Armouries by the designer Joan Bergin, series creator Michael Hirst, and the Mary Rose Trust.

I enjoy visiting displays of costumes I have seen in films or on television. I love to both view the details close up and also find out how they have been made. It is also interesting to note how different in real life they can look compared to the costumes you have seen on your television screen or at the cinema.  The lighting and accessories used in a production can really change the look of the clothes.

I really enjoyed the display in it’s lovely setting – I was however slightly disappointed as I would have liked to see the jewelry, headdresses and accessories included with the costumes to give the full effect – nevertheless I would certainly recommend a visit.

The costumes from ‘The Tudors’ are on display until the 30th November and admission is free.

Last night we presented a ‘Tudor Fashion Show’ for Carlisle Library.

It was a very enjoyable and successful event which included  two new costumes worn for the first time – Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots.

The Elizabeth I Gown is an ornate and beautiful costume consisting of a sumptuous gold silk embroidered gown with hanging sleeves of claret satin.

It was worn with a gold jewelled necklace and girdle as well as three heavy rows of pearl. An large elaborate  gold and white silk ruff was worn around the neck. A stunning period make up and jewelled peacock feather fan completed the outfit.

My Mary Queen of Scots outfit was inspired by clothes worn by Mary for her tragic execution at Fotheringay Castle in 1587.

A black velvet overgown edged with braid is  buttoned over a beautiful silk gown. The silk gown has tie in sleeves with gold aglets and is worn over a chemise. A gold crucifix and  gold rosary were worn around her neck. An attifet, silk veil and period make up based on a portrait of Mary completed this elegant outfit.

This costume created such an impact that a  guest at the show said when she saw it she was  ‘moved to tears.’

Included in the show was beautiful period music and historical images of costumes of the 16th Century.

Henry VIII made his customary appearance in full regalia.  Two young boys aged about eight years old asked nervously if they could possibly shake hands with King Henry VIII.  Henry allowed them to do so on this particular occasion.  Their sister asked if I could make her a dress and I promised to design her a gown when she was older.

On a jovial note – a lady at the show laughingly asked if I could make ‘ a codpiece size large for her husband!

I would like to thank my two wonderful models and all the staff at the Library for their help in making  the show such a success – we would love to present another event at Carlisle in the future.