Further information:

A few students were selected to participate in the exhibition ‘Dress to impress’ for our final project at university. We were given photos from the Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball book of 1897 (displayed at Polesden Lacey) as our brief. I selected Mrs Ronalds dressed as Euterpe, the ‘Muse of Music’ in Greek mythology.

This project was a real celebration of my love for music and the way it brings people together. I have had so many beautiful memories with my Dad and Grandad around the piano; in concerts and singing together, and my family have all been touched by music. I wanted the theme of music to be clear but not too obvious, and for there to be influences of Ancient Greece.

The boned bodice is embellished with machine gold embroidery in a sound wave pattern. Each row is a different recording personal to me - the song my Dad and I made together, my mum singing a childhood lullaby, my Grandad playing the piano for my birthday ect. The structural swirl, from cream organdie, is made from pin tucks which brim wire is inserted to, and piano wire on the outside. It shows my Grandad’s favourite song he played to me - Andalusia n.o5 by Enrique Granados. The notes are laser cut and sewed on by hand, along with the beads. The skirt is 2 layers and match the drapery on the bodice, which connects with a gold broach.