THE REGENCY era has been brought back to life as handmade clothing tells the tales of grand balls and seafront strolls.
An exhibition at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion will display intricate original garments made entirely from paper and thread.
They take influence from the Regency period, 1811-1820, when the Prince Regent would visit the Pavilion – a time which is seeing a huge rise in popularity due to Netflix’s hit show Bridgerton.
Artist Stephanie Smart said: “The Regency Wardrobe has taken nearly three years to design and make.
“Throughout that, the decoration and history of the Royal Pavilion has been a cornerstone of my research. I’m very excited to be seeing the pieces on display in rooms that sum up the possibilities of the time and would have been known intimately by the Prince Regent himself.”
The centrepiece of the exhibition is a dress created especially for the Royal Pavilion: Symphony Of Stars.
It will be shown in the Pavilion’s Music Room, taking inspiration from the room itself and its Chinese wallpaper.
The stars which feature on the dress’s train are platinum colour to recognise the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this year.
Hedley Swain, chief executive of Royal Pavilion and Museum Trust, said: “We are so pleased to have these beautiful, ethereal works of art at the Royal Pavilion, particularly as some of them were directly inspired by the interiors where they will now be on show.
“Stephanie’s creations not only complement the Regency history of the Royal Pavilion but add to its magical nature.”
Stephanie does extensive research before designing her work, visiting museum stores and private collections to view the real garments from various periods in history.
The visits are listed on her website under “The Hidden Wardrobe".
The artist has also set up an ongoing research project, "The Talking Wardrobe". She hopes to collate stories from individuals about garments from bygone eras as a basis for her future work.
READ MORE: Brighton Royal Pavilion Museums Trust reveal exciting plans
The Regency Wardrobe will run from today until Sunday September 11, and is free with admission to the Royal Pavilion.
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