Dress: Fancy: The Podcast About Dressing Up (Lucy Clayton)
Explore every episode of Dress: Fancy: The Podcast About Dressing Up
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| 25 Aug 2023 | Dressing Barbie: the Movie Debrief, with Carol Spencer | 00:16:31 | |
As promised! Following our interview with Barbie designer Carol Spencer, author of “Dressing Barbie” host Lucy Clayton meets up with Carol once more, to discuss the Barbie Movie. This treat sized episode is a forensic and fabulous dissection of the costumes in all it’s pink and sparkly glory. Links
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| 09 Aug 2019 | Episode 29: Still Standing: The Costumes and Curation of Elton John | 00:37:58 | |
In an especially glittering episode, Lucy and Ben discuss the costumes (off stage and on) of the inimitable Rocket Man, Elton John. Reviewing the Star’s sartorial choices decade-by-decade, and comparing them to Julian Day’s interpretations in the recent blockbuster biopic starring Taron Egerton, this week’s show ponders the relationship between costume and character, as well as obviously highlighting some of Elton John’s ‘best-dressed’ moments.
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| 02 Jun 2023 | Dressing Barbie: Designing Fashion for a Style Icon – An Interview with Carol Spencer | 00:40:40 | |
At DRESS:FANCY podcast we are eagerly anticipating the release of Greta Gerwig's Barbie Movie (July 20th). To prepare, host Lucy Clayton tracks down Carol Spencer, who designed Barbie's wardrobe for over 35 years - this is a gorgeous and revealing conversation for anyone who ever played with Barbie, or admired her tiny, fabulous outfits. A celebration of playability and style and the world's most famous doll. Links | |||
| 15 Dec 2021 | Christmas Special - Dress: Fancy Goes to Claridge's | 00:38:50 | |
It’s here! The DRESS:FANCY Christmas special. This is always a show full of delight and sequins but this year, it’s an extra-glittery treat because we’re taking you all to Claridge’s. Join Host Lucy Clayton as she uncovers the magic and mystery behind the festive season at this iconic hotel. Recorded on location with Claridge’s Archivist Kate Hudson and Communications Director, Charlotte Alexander-Stace, in this episode we meet the world’s most fashionable Christmas Trees. What happens when visionary creatives run wild on the theme of Christmas? Since 2009 legendary names from the fashion and design industries have made their mark in the lobby at Claridge’s, with trees full of surprise, splendor and sparkle. With a starry line up including John Galliano, Alber Elbaz, Dolce & Gabbana, Christopher Bailey, Karl Lagerfeld, Diane von Furstenburg, Christian Louboutin and Kim Jones. We trace the origins of this tradition, reflecting on the talent behind the concept and go behind the scenes to discuss the process, the people, the history and the hilarity of a Claridge’s Christmas. Let us transport you to the centre of Mayfair and the official start to Christmas. Links | |||
| 17 May 2019 | Episode 19: The Campest Christmas Eva! | 00:49:15 | |
The pink carpet has been walked and Lucy and Ben reflect on the costume highs and lows of this year’s Met Gala held on 6 May 2019. Were the outfits sufficiently camp? Why is Ben falling out of love with Julianne Moore? And why is Lucy falling in love with Kim Kardashian? Dress: Fancy provides ‘the’ definitive round-up of the year’s most fantastical night in fashion. Links
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| 12 Dec 2019 | Episode 37: Viva Victoria! The enduring appeal of Victoriana | 00:38:09 | |
In a suitably festive episode, and to conclude this season’s costume shenanigans, Lucy and Ben consider a form of cultural expression that always seems relevant: Victoriana. From the costumes of the Queen and Empress Victoria, via the bravura public readings of Charles Dickins, to a very contemporary interpretation of the ‘Victorian Look’ with the Japanese Lolita, this episode – possibly more than any other – shows how we really do love a theme! Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you’d like us to cover in a future show. Show notes
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| 07 Nov 2019 | Episode 32: Shimmer & Shine: The Pearly Kings & Queens | 00:37:10 | |
The City of London has many august traditions, but few are as beautiful, striking and good-natured as that of the Pearly Kings and Queens. Exploring the origins of the Pearlies, the meaning of their highly detailed, shimmering garments, Dress: Fancy were lucky enough to attend the Pearlies’ most important annual event: the harvest festival. For episode images see Instagram: @dressfancypodcast. The episode is brought to you in conjunction with Penhaligon’s (@penhaligons_london) and their Empress fragrance, which is truly the Pearl Queen of their trade routes collection. As ever, for accompanying episode images see our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to Dress: Fancy, you’ll probably know somebody else who would, too, so do spread the word. While you’re at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you’d like us to cover in an upcoming episode.
Show notes
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| 07 Aug 2020 | Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? | 00:39:25 | |
Appropriately for a summer quite unlike any other, this week Lucy and Ben invite themselves to a series of surrealist balls. Tagging along with Salvador Dalí, they discuss the Rothschild Ball of 1972 and the pros and cons of installing a maze in your hallway and serving still-living food on faux-fur plates. Top hosting tips as ever! | |||
| 02 Jul 2021 | Bare-Faced Cheek: Playboy Undressed | 00:55:07 | |
Never slow to come forward, and certainly not shy, Lucy and Ben throw their costumes to the wind this week and talk Playboy. A brand very familiar with dressing up and stripping off. Questioning how far the brand has been a force for emancipation or entrapment, they chat with ad man Jason Berry, sharing a never-to-be-forgotten encounter with Hugh Hefner at the (in)famous Playboy mansion. For one week only, this might be costume drama NSFW… References
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| 05 Dec 2019 | Episode 36: Pharaohnic Fashion: Egypt, Art Deco and Costume | 00:41:47 | |
Lucy talks with Egyptologists Dr Colleen Darnell and Professor John Darnell to reflect on the enduring cultural and sartorial appeal of the land and history of Tutankhamen. From rampant consumerism to studied attention to detail, the conversation considers the use, and misuse, of all things Egypt from the Twenties to today. In this trans-Atlantic chat, topics include vintage dress, sustainability, and the practicalities of sticking to a clothing theme when house cleaning. Fittingly, this episode is brought to you in conjunction with Penhaligon’s evocative Cairo fragrance. Show links:
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| 10 Nov 2021 | Dressing Up With... Phin Harper | 00:20:23 | |
From the makers of DRESS:FANCY podcast comes a new series about the messages and meaning behind what we wear. Host Lucy Clayton is joined by designers, artists, activists, celebrities and members of our listening community to share the secrets of their wardrobes. In each short episode, we’ll meet a particular personality and perspective; revealing that the way we dress tells powerful stories about who we are. And now for Remembrance Day, we’re looking at an alternative take on the tradition of Poppy-wearing Dressing Up With... Phin Harper. Join us for a conversation about expressions of collective memory, war and peace, honour and respect, about choosing to wear a white poppy instead of red one… and about clothes that make a political statement. Links
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| 10 May 2019 | Episode 18: Ethereal Excess – Carlos de Beistegui’s Venetian Ball | 00:38:18 | |
Described, in all seriousness, as the ‘Ball of the Century’, the Beistegui Ball of 1951 was a fancy dress event like no other: the guest list, the costumes, the late-running pre-party rehearsal – everything was taken to an extreme. But at what cost? As guests partied, they also pondered: ‘memorable’ the event certainly was; ‘merry’, perhaps not. Join Lucy and Ben as they discuss the enigmatic host and why his legendary entertainment may not, in fact, have been the party of all parties. Notes
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| 07 Mar 2019 | Episode 15: The Wonderful World of Weldon’s, Or How to Hire the Best Costume | 00:21:05 | |
The adage, ‘They don’t make them like they used to’, is especially apt for the object at the centre of this week’s episode: a fancy dress catalogue from London costume supplier Weldon’s. Join Lucy and Ben as they leaf through the illustrated pages of costume dramas from the 1920s and 1930s and discover insights – sometimes shocking – that demonstrate the cultural prevalence and enduring popularity of dressing up. Links:
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| 14 Aug 2020 | Dressing Up In Art | 01:10:03 | |
This week’s theme is a broad and beautiful one: Lucy and Ben explore the role of dressing up in art with special guest, artist Volker Hermes. The conversation is framed (pun intended) by considering the work of Suzanne Jongmans and Isabelle de Borchgrave, which pursues similar themes to that of Volker’s art. The episode is sure to provide inspiration aplenty until the Dress: Fancy duo are back for more costume drama next season.
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| 04 Mar 2022 | Dressing Up With… Lou Taylor | 00:06:30 | |
From the makers of DRESS:FANCY podcast comes a new series about the messages and meaning behind what we wear. Host Lucy Clayton is joined by designers, artists, activists, celebrities and members of our listening community to share the secrets of their wardrobes. In each short episode, we’ll meet a particular personality and perspective; revealing that the way we dress tells powerful stories about who we are. And today, we're Dressing Up With artist Lou Taylor. Join us for a playful conversation about colour, fashion icons, fake fur coats… and, well, you get the idea. Links
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| 03 Oct 2019 | Episode 30: Fancy That! Dressing Up Comes of Age | 00:46:31 | |
In this indulgent, nostalgic birthday episode, Lucy & Ben review a year’s worth of super-niche, sequinned dressing up stories. Talking about the podcast’s origins, they revisit their favourite episodes and re-live their most exciting excursions. The start of Season Six also comes with a very special announcement: Dress:Fancy is partnering with historic London perfumer Penhaligon’s to make the costume drama even more immersive. As ever, for accompanying episode images, see our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to Dress: Fancy, you’ll probably know somebody else who would, too, so please spread the word. While you’re at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you’d like us to cover in a future show.
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| 03 Dec 2021 | Styling Sustainability with Patrick McDowell | 00:44:57 | |
Lucy Clayton is joined by special co-host - maverick designer, sustainability campaigner and consummate dresser upper, Patrick McDowell. Sustainable fashion is the future - but it's also an opportunity to demonstrate some serious stylishness. Join Lucy and Patrick for a conversation about sequins, systemic change in the fashion industry and how to adapt your buying behaviour (on a budget). This episode will transform preconceptions about ethical fashion and inspire creative responses to the challenges we face in a world dominated by fast fashion and throwaway culture. Links | |||
| 09 Nov 2022 | The Crown Bonus Special: Meet Lucy’s Mother AKA Accidental 90s Princess Diana Lookalike | 00:30:54 | |
DRESS:FANCY podcast celebrates the launch of the new season of Netflix’s The Crown with this by popular demand bonus show… following our episode with Eloise Moran of @ladydirevengelooks, host Lucy Clayton interviews her own mother about what it was like to be Princess Diana’s double throughout the 90’s and Noughties. The similarity is frankly uncanny. Judge for yourself by following us on Instagram & TikTok where you can play along with the lookalike game. Links | |||
| 16 Jun 2023 | Peak 90s Fashion & the Ghost phenomenon with founder Tanya Sarne | 00:28:05 | |
Ghost. Iconic 90s fashion – accessible, desirable and machine washable. In the latest episode of Dress: Fancy, Lucy Clayton revisits this fashion moment with the Ghost founder herself, Tanya Sarne, whose rollercoaster, rock-and-roll lifestyle makes for a mesmerising memoir, Free Spirit. From modelling in Mayfair to running a global powerhouse brand, this is a story of second and third chances, featuring famous faces, lessons in resilience and rehab and some Absolutely Fabulous anecdotes. Links | |||
| 31 Jul 2020 | You Crazy Fool | 00:46:22 | |
This week, Lucy and Ben ponder the enduring appeal, and representation, of the duelling relationship between the fictional frenemies, the harlequin and pierrot. From plays and paintings, to fashion and of course fancy dress, the comic duo reveal much about shifting social values and confirm that many a true word is spoken in jest…
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| 14 Mar 2019 | Episode 16: Aesthetes and the Avantgarde: Costume Balls at the Chelsea Arts Club | 00:30:43 | |
In this special ‘on location’ episode, Lucy and Ben visit the archives of the Chelsea Arts Club to explore the creativity, chaos and controversy that was Chelsea Arts Club annual fancy dress ball. Illustrated invitations, letters of outrage and contemporary newspaper reports, with stories of smoke bombs, arresting costumes and the London social scene, make this the perfect party to bring Season Three to a close. Links Chelsea Arts Club: www.chelseaartsclub.com Chelsea Arts Club Trust: www.chelseaartsclubtrust.org National AIDS Trust: www.nat.org.uk
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| 24 Feb 2023 | Inside the Real Bridgerton Court: Who Was the Real Queen Charlotte? | 01:06:04 | |
In advance of the eagerly anticipated Shondaland spinoff series “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix, 4th May), Lucy Clayton takes a look at the real-life story behind one of television’s most compelling characters. Guest Catherine Curzon, author of a gorgeous new biography, joins us to discuss the scandals, fashions and kangaroos of Charlotte’s court. A must listen for Bridgerton fans everywhere. Links | |||
| 28 Sep 2022 | New season trailer – Autumn/Winter 2022 | 00:04:09 | |
Host Lucy Clayton gives a glimpse of what's in store for the new season of Dress: Fancy. Links | |||
| 14 Oct 2022 | Haunting Fashion: Clothing Beyond the Grave | 01:02:59 | |
Our annual Halloween show is the highlight of the DRESS:FANCY year. Host Lucy Clayton is joined by writers Rosalind Yana and Chris Woodyard to explore the perplexing human impulse to imbue clothes with meaning beyond the grave. Can a garment embody a spirit? And how can what someone wore serve as a tool to process the concept of death? Inspired by all the drama and controversy of Kim Kardashian in Marilyn’s dress for the MET we investigate why the clothing of the dead has, throughout history, proved an evocative link to the afterlife. We consider the modern iterations of Mourning Jewellery alongside ancient memorial customs, and Lucy really tightens up plans for her own, lavish funeral. Links
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| 04 Feb 2022 | Part 2: A Very British Scandal, with Adrian Tinniswood | 00:22:07 | |
Join Lucy Clayton, author Adrian Tinniswood, Margaret Ducness of Argyll and the international jet set for a conversation about the social context surrounding this fashion icon and controversial society figure. Inspired by the BBC drama "A Very British Scandal" Links | |||
| 13 Aug 2021 | Dressing for Laughs: Comedy in Costume | 01:15:15 | |
This episode puts the gags front and centre. We don’t mean the effortless banter between Lucy and Ben, or her relentless teasing of him (which is only funny for one!), but the laughter and joy that is inherent in dressing up. From the trope of the Wise Fool, and the ‘Scary Clown Scare’ of 2016, to the haute couture of Viktor & Rolf, and an interview with a clown-turned-comedy lecturer, we consider the poignancy of costume puns and explain why a collective giggle is necessary for all.
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| 30 Dec 2022 | The Crown in Vogue with Robin Muir & Josephine Ross | 01:15:24 | |
Lucy Clayton interviews Robin Muir & Josephine Ross, authors of “The Crown in Vogue) – join us as we rifle through the Vogue archive of a century’s worth of Royal Reporting. From Coronations, Weddings, Jubilees, Abdications, and Investitures – this is a celebration fashion history as told through one family, in the pages of Vogue. Links
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| 21 Feb 2019 | Bonus Episode - Lights, Camera, Gucci! | 00:20:58 | |
Gucci’s SS19 campaign is an unashamedly glitzy and joyous celebration of 1950s Americana, as relayed through Hollywood and Kodachrome photography. It also looks, and feels, a lot like fancy dress costume. In this mini episode, Lucy and Ben reflect on the inspiration – and impact – of a campaign that has been both lauded and lambasted.
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| 08 May 2020 | Episode 41: The Darker Side of Dress | 01:02:39 | |
This week, Lucy and Ben walk towards the precipice and consider the role and meaning of clothes in six different cults. Reflecting on the relationship between fashion and fanaticism, the show considers how distinctive dress is used to control and champion the spread of controversial ideas and behaviours. The nature of this week’s discussion means that this is not for the whole family: listener discretion is advised.
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| 30 Jul 2021 | Paper Dreams: Costumes from Crêpe | 00:37:24 | |
Inspired by a listener’s costume design project, this episode explores the possibilities – and problems – of dressing up with paper. As Lucy struggles with her own creativity (paper patterns are harder than they look!), Ben charts the colourful, stretchy history of crêpe and looks at artists and designers who have folded and glued to make striking fashions. Join us for a crafting session with help from Jane Asher, Dennison’s and an awful lot of sellotape References | |||
| 10 Dec 2021 | Dressing up with... Alex T Smith | 00:15:24 | |
From the makers of DRESS:FANCY podcast comes a new series about the messages and meaning behind what we wear. Host Lucy Clayton is joined by designers, artists, activists, celebrities and members of our listening community to share the secrets of their wardrobes. In each short episode, we’ll meet a particular personality and perspective; revealing that the way we dress tells powerful stories about who we are. Today we’re dressing up with author and illustrator, Alex T Smith! Join us for a conversation about drawing fashion, stolen knitwear and accessories for respectable storybook animals everywhere. Links | |||
| 18 Jun 2021 | Social Climbing on Gilded Stairs | 00:26:08 | |
This week, Lucy and Ben take a trip to gilded age New York and rub shoulders with robber baron-socialites, the Vanderbilts. They examine a battery-powered costume and reflect on the trauma and tantrums of being one of the privileged ‘400’ to critique the parallels between America’s pioneering plutocrats and today’s popularity-seeking pin-ups. Just how does Kim Kardashian measure up against Cornelius ‘The Commodore’ Vanderbilt? References
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| 01 May 2020 | Episode 40: New Kids on the Block | 00:39:10 | |
Lucy and Ben sacrifice comfort to probe the dark, sometimes demonic, always disruptive world of the New York Club Kids, a diverse group who caroused and challenged in the City That Never Sleeps during the 1980s and 1990s. Offering a counterpoise to last week’s episode on the Bright Young Things, the Club Kids used their (clothed) bodies to challenge and provoke social norms in a way that would have intimated Beaton and his crew. | |||
| 27 May 2022 | Gloves: Function, Fashion and Fantasy | 00:53:20 | |
Lucy Clayton is joined by Dr Anne Green, author of "Gloves: An Intimate History" for an exploration of the history of gloves, right through to their role in contemporary fashion. This episode is full of surprising and startling stories and symbolism… you will never look at gloves the same way ever again! Please support our micro donation campaign for the charity Beauty Banks. Text BEAUTY to 70490 Links | |||
| 29 May 2020 | Episode 44: Bienvenue, Willkommen, Welcome! | 00:56:17 | |
It’s about time! Lucy and Ben wear their smudgiest eyeliner and descend into the subterranean world of the Cabaret. Focusing on two examples from early twentieth-century Europe, in England and Germany, they discover curious parallels between the past and present and reflect on people’s universal desire to live as themselves and without fear.
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| 15 Jul 2019 | Episode 26: Stylish Sketches: Manga Lates at the British Museum | 00:30:22 | |
Lucy and Ben record live from the front row at the British Museum, listening in on Grayson Perry as he talks with Kensai Yamamoto, and dissecting the fashion and cosplay catwalks inspired by the Museum’s current, must-see Manga exhibition. Interviews with participants recreate the special atmosphere and reveal the marvellous, metamorphosing abilities of Manga. Show links
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| 15 May 2020 | Episode 42: Thoroughly Modern Molly | 00:18:00 | |
This week, in the second of our designer-focused mini episodes, Lucy and Ben discuss the bold and beautiful, strong and soft, powerful and playful creations of Molly Goddard. Since 2015, Goddard has won various industry accolades, designed for the Met Gala and for the small screen, combining technical skill with a unique sartorial flair. This episode tells you all you need to know about the fantasy and force of her work. | |||
| 28 Feb 2019 | Episode 14: Hassle, Heartache, and Hagrid: Reflections on World Book Day | 00:24:37 | |
Love it or loath it, World Book Day has become an important date in family calendars as toddlers, teenagers and just about any other young person under an adult’s influence, is dressed up and decorated to resemble a character from literary fiction. The costume fun and frustration of World Book Day provides for some hilarious – and likely scarring – moments, but as Lucy and Ben discover, the purpose of this annual day of dress-up is very serious, and necessary, indeed.
Links: Charities · https://www.worldbookday.com · https://secure.booktrust.org.uk/donation/ Media · ‘1 in 8 disadvantaged children in the UK don’t own a single book’: https://literacytrust.org.uk/news/1-8-disadvantaged-children-uk-dont-own-single-book/ · Support the Literacy Trust: https://literacytrust.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/ · According to the Liverpool Echo, parents will be scouring shelves for costumes this year…https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/aldi-selling-world-book-day-15811906 · A round-up from Metro of some of last year’s WBD highlights: https://metro.co.uk/2018/03/01/world-book-day-2018-the-best-costumes-from-children-and-adults-7351484/ · Podcast: ‘How to Fail with Elizabeth Day: Sharmaine Lovegrove’, Series 3, Episode 7. · Instagram: @father_of_daughters | |||
| 16 Jul 2021 | Head to Toe: Costume on the Extremities | 00:35:41 | |
In this episode, the stars of the show are the bits of the human body - from heads down to toes – that tend to get neglected in our daily clothing, but which take on new prominence and meaning when dressed creatively and fantastically in costume. Think diamond studded stag’s head and curled shoes, and you get the idea. Join Lucy and Ben as they talk about the possibilities and problems of dressing the body’s periphery. References Linked archive episodes | |||
| 10 Jun 2022 | “You’re Doing it Wrong” – A Celebration of Fashion, Beauty and Misogyny Throughout the Ages | 01:15:15 | |
Lucy Clayton is joined by guest Kaz Cooke, bestselling author of “You’re Doing it Wrong: A History of Bad & Bonkers Advice to Women” for a fresh, funny and furious look at the terrible advice women have been told for centuries. Recorded while wearing a fur bra and a frilly apron. Please support our micro donation campaign for the charity Beauty Banks. Text BEAUTY to 70490. Links
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| 17 Nov 2023 | Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style | 00:46:10 | |
Today’s episode takes us to the Museum of London – where the major contribution of Jewish designers in making London an iconic fashion city is recognised in a new exhibtion. Revealing the stories of Jewish fashion makers who became industry leaders, founded retail chains still familiar on the high street today, and dressed the rich and famous Told through textiles, oral histories, objects and photography this is a show where every stitch tells a story. Links | |||
| 29 Apr 2022 | Launch Party for "Harry Styles and the Clothes He Wears" with Author Terry Newman | 00:48:25 | |
Feather boas at the ready! Join Lucy Clayton in conversation with author Terry Newman to celebrate the upcoming launch of her new book - a delicious, deep dive into the wardrobe of fashion icon Mr Harry Styles. A rock and roll fashion history lesson fired from a confetti cannon. Please support our micro donation campaign for the charity Beauty Banks. Text BEAUTY to 70490. Links
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| 18 Mar 2022 | Sali Hughes & Lucy Clayton introduce Beauty Banks x DRESS:FANCY | 00:28:27 | |
Welcome to a new season of DRESS:FANCY where we’re using our collective power to do some good by partnering with the charity Beauty Banks. Together, we’re launching their micro donation campaign. Join beauty industry legend and co-founder Sali Hughes in conversation with host Lucy Clayton to hear why this matters and how you can help. Text BEAUTY to 70490 Links | |||
| 03 Sep 2021 | Code Purple: Costumes & Cavorting with Prince | 00:53:15 | |
In this episode, Lucy and Ben are joined by author Casci Ritchie to talk about the life and wardrobe of one of the greatest artists of all time: Prince. Reflecting on gender, race and the role of costume in the performance of Prince’s complex and ever-evolving identities, we talk about leggings, chest hair, that Super Bowl, and––of course––the colour purple. Links
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| 02 Oct 2022 | The Official Laura Ashley Fan Club | 01:00:20 | |
Dress: Fancy begins a new season with a special episode exploring the history and influence of Laura Ashley – join host Lucy Clayton and fellow Laura Ashley obsessives Isabel Spearman, founder of the hugely influential Daily Dress Edit, Telegraph Fashion Director Bethan Holt, and designer Justine Tabak to glory in the legacy of a brand that has not been given its fair share of attention historically, but is experiencing a renaissance for vintage collectors and as an inspiration for hoards of contemporary designers too. LinksRecommended content
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| 20 Oct 2023 | Season of the Witch – Dress: Fancy Halloween special 2023, with Cathi Unsworth | 00:44:41 | |
You can trust Lucy Clayton to take you to some dark places each Halloween but this year, we bring you the ultimate guide to Goth. Author Cathi Unsworth has written the definitive history of Goth and joins us to talk music, eyeliner and icons of this spookiest of genres. Links
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| 03 May 2019 | Episode 17: Camper Than Christmas? A Preview of the Met Gala Ball | 00:28:42 | |
Aside from Halloween, the only other date that gets Lucy and Ben excited is the first Monday in May, when the Metropolitan Museum, New York, hosts its gala ball to raise funds for its Costume Institute. Although not strictly a fancy dress event, the couture worn to this shimmering festivity is often fantastical, always exceptional. This year, with the theme derived from the Costume Institute exhibition, Camp: Notes on Fashion, the potential for some truly extraordinary garments is high! Join Lucy and Ben as they kick-start Season Four and tell you all you need to know about this extraordinary sartorial event. Notes
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| 22 Dec 2023 | Behind the scenes at the Met for "Women Dressing Women", with conservator Melina Plottu (Christmas Special) | 00:54:31 | |
In this episode we go behind the scenes at the Met for the Costume Institute’s new exhibition “Women Dressing Women” with curator Melina Plottu, textiles conservator, as our guide. Learn about the process of preparing garments for display and discover the secrets of this extraordinary role that plays such an important but often unseen part of fashion exhibitions at this scale. Links | |||
| 11 Mar 2022 | New Season Trailer – Spring 2022 | 00:02:53 | |
THE podcast about dressing up. Listen to discover what the new season of Dress:Fancy has in store. Links | |||
| 08 Jul 2019 | Episode 25: A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 00:44:54 | |
On Saturday 20 July, Dress: Fancy will be hosting a costumed parade at this year’s Royal Academy Summer Show Lates event. The theme, excitingly, is ‘Georgian Pleasure Garden’... To prepare for the festivities, Lucy and Ben provide an essential guide to costuming and getting into your Georgian character. A special visit to the National Theatre’s costume department should provide inspiration for even the most seasoned fancy dress revellers. No excuses!
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| 08 Feb 2019 | Bonus Episode - Live at the Royal Academy: The Costume Parade to the Secret Ballroom | 00:19:47 | |
In the second of two special episodes recorded live at the Royal Academy’s Klimt-Schiele Cabaret Night in January, follow Lucy and Ben as they talk with costumed revellers, lead the Academy’s first costume parade, and award some incredibly coveted rosettes for the evening’s most inspiring fancy dress.
Links Our venue: @royalacademyarts Our photographers: @emmiefin @gregclaytonphotography @maxmiechowski
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| 20 Dec 2018 | Episode 12: Balls & Baubles – Jewellery at the Beistegui, Capote and Rothschild Costume Balls | 00:57:20 | |
In this Season’s finale, Lucy and Ben talk with Levi Higgs about the jewellery worn at three of the twentieth-century’s most lavish and exclusive costume balls. Following Dress: Fancy’s patron saint, Cecil Beaton, who attended each of these events, this episode examines the significance of haute joaillerie and costume jewellery worn by the likes of Daisy Fellowes, Gloria Guiness and the inimitable Elizabeth Taylor.
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| 31 May 2019 | Episode 21: Adolescent Avatars: the power and powerlessness of costumed children | 00:47:54 | |
Children playing dress-up is age-old and innocent. Or is it? Lucy and Ben go behind the seams to consider if children really do enjoy fancy dress as much the coaxed smiles in family photos suggest. Are these kids really avatars, conduits for the adults in their lives to express their views and to demonstrate their status? One thing’s for sure: you’ll never look at the children’s costume party in the same way again!
Links Instagram: @dressfancypodcast | |||
| 23 Oct 2020 | Dress: Spooky | 00:45:06 | |
As the self-proclaimed experts, arbiters and arch-judges of dressing up, Lucy and Ben take to the airwaves for a special episode to provide the definitive guide to the dressing up equivalent of Christmas: Halloween. Ever topical, slightly tawdry, and full of scary costuming tips, the podcasting duo aim to rouse the spirits (pun intended) of even the most weary of people to make this year’s fright-fest suitably festive, and COVID-19 proof.
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| 09 Dec 2022 | Costume Anxiety & the Nativity Play – The DRESS:FANCY 2023 Christmas Special! | 00:55:07 | |
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, the DRESS:FANCY podcast Christmas special! Join Lucy Clayton for an episode filled with glitter, nostalgia and dressing up as we explore the chaotic world of the Christmas Nativity Play. Recorded on location at an actual nursery school with head teacher Lucy Morley, we serve up top tips for creating costumes for your little darlings as well as sharing listener stories of triumphs, trauma and tea towels on heads. Links | |||
| 14 Nov 2019 | Episode 33: Sirens’ Call: The Underwater World of Mermaids & Mermen | 00:37:21 | |
Dress: Fancy has yet to venture off-shore: until now. In this week’s aquatic-themed episode, Lucy introduces Ben to the complex and beautiful world of the merpeople, a diverse community who dress as mermaids and mermen to seek personal and communal fulfilment in the water. The episode is brought to you in conjunction with Penhaligon’s and their maritime-linked fragrance, Lothair. This intricate perfume is inspired by the famous Tea Clipper Ships that navigated the globe to bring exotic wares to Britain’s shores. As ever, for accompanying episode images see our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to Dress: Fancy, you’ll probably know somebody else who would, too, so please spread the word. While you’re at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you’d like us to cover in a future show.
Show notes
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| 21 Jul 2023 | End of Season Message + Summer Holiday Things to Do & Read! | 00:06:42 | |
Welcome to this end of season message from host Lucy Clayton. Full of recommendations for things to see and read over the summer. Please review the show. Links
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| 25 Aug 2021 | Dressed x Dress: Fancy Go Through the Looking Glass | 00:56:31 | |
Inspired by this season’s epic exhibition at London’s V&A museum, April and Cassidy, Lucy and Ben play dress up in a collaborative show about the influence of Alice in Wonderland on fashions past and present. From Victorian pen and ink sketches through to Viktor & Rolf – Alice is a symbol who has stuck around. Together with her eccentric cast of characters she has been referenced and reimaged in fashion time and time again. We look at the evolution of Alice herself as well as the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts on screen, on the runway and on the street. What is so compelling about this story that it continues to inspire fantastic and creative clothes? Together with special guests from the V&A, this show takes listeners on a curious and curiouser journey of discovery... | |||
| 24 Apr 2020 | Episode 39: Scandalous! Beaton & The Bright Young Things | 00:50:11 | |
This week, Lucy and Ben explore the life and times of Dress: Fancy’s patron saint, Cecil Beaton. The social upheavals in Europe between the First and Second World Wars created an unsettling mix of expectation and fear. Weary and wealthy, a privileged group of twenty-somethings attempted to turn doubt and despair into delight and delirium. Their antics and fancy dress shenanigans became legendary, but, Beaton apart, their hopes for escape remained tragically unfulfilled.
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| 15 Apr 2022 | Fashioning Masculinities – The Art of Menswear at the V&A | 01:00:09 | |
Join Lucy Clayton for a private guided tour of the V&A’s new blockbuster exhibition: Fashioning Masculinities, The Art of Menswear with curators Claire Wilcox and Rosalind McKever. Recorded on location at the V&A museum. Please support our micro donation campaign for the charity Beauty Banks. Text BEAUTY to 70490 Links | |||
| 13 Dec 2018 | Bonus Episode: Sweating It Out – Reflections on the Christmas Sweater | 00:15:17 | |
Fancy dress may be inherently unfashionable but it has found a home in the seasonal wardrobe of many people the world over – the British in particular – in the form of the Christmas sweater. On 14 December, Save the Children encourage mass festive sweater wearing to raise awareness and funds for their charitable work. If you’re going to take part, listen in: Funny and fearsome, the Christmas sweater is a curious example of fancy dress becoming mainstream (albeit briefly) and in this short ‘bonus’ episode, Lucy and Ben consider its origins, implications and, mercifully, guide you through ‘dos’ and absolute ‘do nots’ of this modern festive tradition. | |||
| 28 Apr 2023 | Launch Party for “Rihanna and the Clothes She Wears” with Author Terry Newman | 00:45:02 | |
On DRESS:FANCY podcast we love nothing more than a shameless rummage around in a celebrity wardrobe. And there is no one we’d rather do it with than author Terry Newman, who’s forensic knowledge of who wore what and when and why is world class. Her latest book, Rihanna and the Clothes She Wears is an encyclopaedic look at a style icon who’s versatility and flair makes her one of the fashion industry’s most loved practitioners – she is both artist and muse. Join us as we rifle through Rihanna’s extremely well-appointed closet. Links
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| 24 Jun 2019 | Episode 24: Carte Blanche - The Power of Dressing in White | 00:37:50 | |
Pristine, pure, powerful, peaceful: the meanings of white are many and various. It should occasion no surprise, then, that dressing in white (and its opposite, black) have long been a popular theme in costumed entertainments. Tracing the history of this colour through clothing, Lucy and Ben discuss some of the more intriguing uses of white in dressing up, from the seventeenth-century royal masque to Donald Trump’s recent, regrettable UK State Visit.
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| 08 Dec 2023 | The Lee Miller Story. With Ami Bouhassane, Robin Muir, Josephine Ross and Lucy Clayton | 01:05:18 | |
In this episode we explore the life and work of iconic artist, Lee Miller, in anticipation of the new film starring Kate Winslet. Links | |||
| 03 Nov 2023 | Fashion & Propaganda with Amber Butchart and the Fashion & Textiles Museum | 00:59:27 | |
This episode celebrates a new exhibition at the Fashion & Textiles Museum here in London: “The Fabric of Democracy: Propaganda Textiles from the French Revolution to Brexit” with curator, writer and broadcaster Amber Butchart. Discover how textiles have played a key role in the art of propaganda throughout the ages. Links
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| 17 Apr 2020 | Episode 38: When Lucy Became Mariella | 00:22:29 | |
Series seven commences with a super-niche, and super-indulgent, episode as Lucy transforms herself into Mariella Frostrup and interviews Ben about his new fancy dress-related tome, Carnival to Catwalk. To further allay isolation boredom, the episode also introduces the Dress: Fancy Costume Conundrum competition that will run throughout the series. | |||
| 24 Jul 2020 | The Chiffon Trenches | 00:56:16 | |
This week, Lucy and Ben tweak their normal designer-focused episode to review Andre Leon Talley’s memoir, The Chiffon Trenches. Reflecting on Talley’s exuberant and complex life – in and out of fashion’s spotlight – the book provides a rare opportunity to peel back the industry’s polished veneer and to consider how the pursuit of fashion rarely comes without cost. | |||
| 10 Jul 2020 | Vive la Révolution: Make-up Gets Ugly | 00:57:32 | |
In this week’s episode, Ben and Lucy are taking their diamanté magnifying glass to the face itself, and thinking about a new fashion coinage: Ugly Make-up, or Brutalist Make-up. Reflecting on the origins and motivations of this creative, conspicuous beauty trend, the Dress: Fancy duo also offer some of their own cosmetic tips. Surely, not to be missed.
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| 14 Jun 2019 | Episode 23: Going Batty – A Costumed History of Bats | 00:36:41 | |
If you were to think of your costumed alter-ego as a creature, it’s unlikely you’d immediately conjure an image of a bat, and yet as this super niche episode demonstrates, bats have long been – and continue to be – popular subjects for dressing up, and not simply as Batman or Batwoman. Proving that no topic is too small for them to ponder, Lucy and Ben investigate the origins, symbolism and frightening beauty of the bat costume. Prepare to be stupefied!
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| 01 Feb 2019 | Bonus Episode: Live at the Royal Academy | 00:11:50 | |
Join hosts Lucy Clayton & Dr Benjamin Wild live at the Royal Academy, as part of the RALates series for a discussion about Klimt, Schiele & the Viennese Secession - in this special, mini episode we explore the crossover between fashion, costume and the art of the period.
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| 03 Jul 2020 | Black Portraiture & the Getty Museum Challenge | 01:07:05 | |
Peter Brathwaite is a man of many talents but most recently he’s been the shining star of the Getty Museum Challenge – the social media sensation that has captivated art lovers, creators and costume fanatics during global lockdown. Using the challenge as platform to explore the history of Black Portraiture – Peter has brilliantly captured the spirit of works of art across the ages and drawn attention to stories that have been too long neglected or considered marginalised. Join Lucy and Peter as they discuss the process behind this extraordinary project.
To vote for us in the British Podcast Awards, visit britishpodcastawards.com/vote, type "Dress Fancy" into the search box and follow the instructions. Thank you! | |||
| 12 Jun 2020 | Episode 46: Keep Your Distance | 01:09:55 | |
As the global lockdown eases and we all begin to think about wearing clothes in public, possibly for the first time in three months, Lucy and Ben discuss how the pandemic could change the way we dress. Looking to the past, politicians, and always with an eye to the playful, a range of sartorial options are considered and, of course, judged. Before venturing beyond your four walls, this episode could contain some essential dressing up pointers...
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| 24 Mar 2023 | Secrets from a Victorian Woman’s Wardrobe | 00:54:04 | |
On the latest episode of Dress: Fancy, Lucy Clayton uncovers the secrets from a Victorian woman’s wardrobe with author Kate Strasdin and her enchanting new book The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes. This extraordinary fashion scrapbook contains thousand of swatches of fabric, which together tell the story of female friendship, industry and empire, art and commerce. This is Victorian life not as you know it but in vivid, glorious and complicated technicolour. You can see the images that accompany every conversation on our Instagram @dressfancypodcast Links | |||
| 28 Oct 2022 | Lady Diana Revenge Looks | 01:05:37 | |
In this episode we turn our attention to one of the most revered style icons in all the world – Princess Diana. Join host Lucy Clayton and Eloise Moran, founder of the cult Instagram @ladydirevengelooks and author of “The Lady Di Look Book – What Diana Was Trying to Tell Us With Her Clothes” for a shameless indulgent tour of Diana’s wardrobe evolution, from the see-through skirts of a nursery school teacher through to the Versace armour of a global superstar… we tour all the best looks, and discover the secret to revenge dressing in case you ever need to give it a whirl yourself. Links | |||
| 22 May 2020 | Episode 43: Hide and Seek | 00:36:01 | |
For many people, the essential part of any fancy dress costume is a face mask. Concealing one identity and making another possible, face coverings have been a source of excitement and anxiety throughout history. Today, in the midst of a global pandemic, this costume staple now means something very different. In this episode, Lucy and Ben discuss the many and varied meanings of masks in different cultures and across chronologies.
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| 22 Jul 2019 | Episode 27: Indulging Imaginations: Picnicking with the Jane Austen Pineapple Appreciation Society | 00:46:07 | |
In Pride and Prejuduce Jane Austen extolled the virtues of indulging the imagination ‘in every possible way’. With this in mind, Lucy and Ben joined members of the Jane Austen Pineapple Appreciation Society (JAPAS) for a costumed picnic at the National Trust’s Mottisfont Abbey on one sunny (and rainy) Sunday. In preparation, Lucy spoke with JAPAS founder Sophie Andrews to discover just what it takes to be a fully fledged Jane-ite. Show Links
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| 19 May 2023 | Part 2. Behind the Scenes: “Crown to Couture” at Kensington Palace | 00:37:32 | |
Join host Lucy Clayton and curators Polly Putnam and Claudia Acott Williams on a grand day out at Kensington Palace. This is Part Two of a two part special, recorded after the curator tour of the exhibition itself. If you’ve ever wondered how an exhibition of this scale is put together, or what the role of a curator comprises - this episode reveals all.
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| 05 May 2023 | Coronation Special: Crown to Couture at Kensington Palace | 01:02:34 | |
Join host Lucy Clayton and curators Polly Putnam and Claudia Acott Williams on a grand day out at Kensington Palace - for a behind the scenes tour of the new Crown To Couture exhibition. This is Part One of a two part special. Links | |||
| 05 Jun 2020 | Episode 45: A Truly Splendid Spectacle | 00:48:02 | |
The past months have been strange, difficult and trying. Fancy dress has been worn by people around the world to provide joy during the pandemic. In this week’s episode, Lucy and Ben consider how fancy dress costume performed a similar function in the past as they invite themselves to the first bal costumé hosted by Queen Victoria, a medieval extravaganza celebrating the court of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. Gold, glitter, silks and furs: what could be more joyous than this…
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| 26 Nov 2021 | Mary Quant: the Life and Times of a Fashion Legend – In Conversation with Director Sadie Frost | 00:30:21 | |
Lucy Clayton is joined by special guest co-host Sadie Frost – fresh from directing the new documentary about the life and times of fashion legend Mary Quant. Lucy and Sadie discuss the legacy of Quant as a design pioneer, the relationship between fashion and feminism and the process behind the making of the film. Join us for an inspiring and intimate conversation about how the clothes we wear shape our sense of self. Quant is in cinemas up until end of January at selected screens, it will then be released digitally on February 21st 2022 on multiple platforms, and the DVD will follow on the 28th February. Links
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| 21 Nov 2019 | Episode 34: Gender Bender: Behind the Seams with Craig Green | 00:28:02 | |
In this week’s episode, Lucy and Ben begin a new mini-series that looks in-depth at the work of fashion designers whose clothing engages with themes we regularly explore through costume; chiefly identity and representation. We start by looking at the technically accomplished and creatively daring designs of award-winning British designer Craig Green. Appropriately, this episode is brought to you in conjunction with our partner Penhaligon’s and their bespoke fragrance service. So, if you are feeling sufficiently inspired by hearing about the creativity of Craig Green, this could be your opportunity to make a statement through scent... As ever, accompanying episode images on our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to the show, there’s a good chance you’ll know somebody else who would, so please spread the word. While you’re at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you’d like us to cover in a future show. Show notes
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| 19 Nov 2021 | Dressing in Disguise: Evasions, escapes, and emancipation | 00:42:57 | |
Join Lucy Clayton and Guest Co-Host Patrick Grant for an exploration of the history of dressing for disguise. This episode covers clothes for evading detection, getting away with murder, avoiding unwanted attention or for fleeing to freedom. With special guest Jonathan Square. Recorded at Norton & Sons, Savile Row. Links
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| 29 Jul 2019 | Episode 28: Into the Pleasure Garden - The RA Summer Show Lates Event | 00:22:38 | |
Getting into the summer spirit in central London, Lucy and Ben re-join the Royal Academy for another Lates costumed extravaganza. Talking with revellers, hosting the Georgian Moonlit Promenade and, most importantly, bestowing rosettes on the very best of the best-dressed, the Dress: Fancy duo were in their fancy dress heaven. Indulge, or re-live, the magical experience with our highlights.
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| 17 Sep 2021 | Dress the Baby Halloween Costume Competition | 00:11:02 | |
Reflecting on the season that has been, and teasing exciting future developments, Lucy and Ben introduce a frighteningly fun competition for Halloween to keep listeners engaged in the costume drama! Links | |||
| 01 Apr 2022 | In Intimate Detail: Everything you need to know about lingerie with Cora Harrington and Lucy Clayton | 01:00:25 | |
For the first time, in this episode of DRESS:FANCY we’re taking OFF our clothes to uncover what lies beneath... Guest Cora Harrington is an American writer and commentator widely recognised as one of the foremost authorities on the subject of lingerie. She's the Founder and Editor in Chief of The Lingerie Addict, the world's largest lingerie blog. And the author of In Intimate Detail: How to choose, wear and love lingerie - a book which demystifies and modernises the way we think about the complex and private territory of intimate apparel. She joins host Lucy Clayton to discuss the politics, power and provocation of lingerie, alongside some more practical advice like how to properly hand-wash your knickers! Please support our micro donation campaign for the charity Beauty Banks Text BEAUTY to 70490 Links
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| 17 Jul 2020 | Masqued Realities | 01:11:49 | |
This week, Lucy and Ben are off to the court to enjoy the spectacle that was the masque. Propaganda par excellence, this short-lived entertainment during the seventeenth century glorified monarchy, and could give contemporary leaders a PR tip or two. Discussing the tense creative partnership between poet Ben Jonson and architect Inigo Jones, the show takes you to a world of sensory excess that was fit for a king - and his queen - in every sense. | |||
| 24 Nov 2022 | Dress: Fancy needs your Christmas costume dramas! | 00:01:37 | |
This year, our Christmas special theme is costume anxiety and the nativity play. Together with a nursery school head teacher, Lucy will be answering your questions about making papier-mâché camels, sourcing the best red reindeer nose, and many more things. We want to hear from you! If you have a question you'd like us to answer or an anecdote about your school days or your children's performances, share them with us and contribute to the show. Here’s how to take part.
Don’t be shy, and do remember to include your name in your voice message. The deadline for taking part is Friday December 2nd. | |||
| 07 Jun 2021 | Season 9 trailer | 00:02:03 | |
Lucy and Ben are back for yet more costume drama, announcing season 9 of the Dress: Fancy podcast, and something to slake your thirst for vintage couture until the first episode arrives in mid-June: Moth Tales Join Ben in playing dress detective as he examines – with searing judgement – something from Lucy's vintage archive. Watch on Instagram Live every Tuesday at 8pm, by following @dressfancypodcast. | |||
| 22 Sep 2023 | The Closet, with author Teo van den Broeke | 00:32:53 | |
Lucy Clayton meets with Soho House's editorial director and former style director for British GQ and Esquire, Teo van den Broke to discuss his debut book - a memoir about self discovery and finding yourself through fashion. Links
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| 18 Oct 2021 | My Beautiful Radium - Glow in the Dark Halloween Special | 00:58:50 | |
Join Lucy and Ben for an exploration of fashion's eternal fascination with Glow in the Dark. From the heart-wrenching story of the Radium Girls in the 1920s to neon nights in the 1990s' rave scene, this is a halloween episode like no other. Links
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| 07 Jun 2019 | Episode 22: Fandoms & Self-Fashioning: Into the World of Cosplay | 00:55:55 | |
This week, Dress: Fancy speaks with Professor Therèsa M. Winge from Michigan State University to explore the compelling, complicated and challenging world of cosplay. A distinct form of fancy dress, cosplay is unique for enabling people to explore themselves and their society by adopting the clothing and character traits of favourite (fictional) characters. As Professor Winge explains, few forms of costume are simultaneously as escapist and revealing about contemporary society and politics as this increasingly popular entertainment.
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| 28 Jan 2022 | A Very British Scandal: The Real-Life Wardrobe of the Duchess of Argyll | 01:20:54 | |
Hands up if you enjoyed “A Very British Scandal” the BBC drama written by Sarah Phelps, starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany? ****OF COURSE YOU DID! So, here’s a treat for everyone craving more salacious and sartorial details about Margaret, Duchess of Argyll. Join host Lucy Clayton, biographer Lyndsy Spence and author Luci Gosling for a rummage around in Margaret’s real-life wardrobe. We explore the fashion standards of the time, Margaret’s personal sense of style, her penchant for the pearls that sealed her fate and, of course, Argyll socks. Links | |||
| 24 May 2019 | Episode 20: Your Culture, Their Costume? Fancy Dress and Cultural Appropriation | 00:38:29 | |
In 2011, Teen Vogue drew attention to harmful consequences of insensitively chosen fancy dress costumes that reduce beliefs, cultures and people to garish stereotypes. In previous episodes of Dress: Fancy, Lucy and Ben have considered the painful consequences of badly informed costume choices and in this episode they continue this dialogue, reflecting in far more depth on the widening debates about cultural appropriation and dressing up. Links
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| 31 Oct 2019 | Episode 31: Little Podcast of Horror | 00:26:00 | |
Little Podcast of Horror: Season Six commences on the year’s biggest day for fancy dress: Halloween! Always looking to raise the costume stakes, Lucy and Ben consider costume inspiration from some unlikely sources, including the Pre-Raphaelites, Audrey Beardsley and an eighties footwear commercial that Lucy has still not got over. The episode is brought to you in conjunction with Penhaligon’s (@penhaligons_london) and their seasonally-appropriate Elixir candle, which will assuredly fill any space with the magic, wonder and whimsy of Autumn and All Hallows Eve. As ever, for accompanying episode images see our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to Dress: Fancy, you’ll probably know somebody else who would, too, so please spread the word. While you’re at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you’d like us to cover in a future show.
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| 29 Oct 2021 | Noble Ambitions: The Fall and Rise of the Post-war Country House, with Adrian Tinniswood | 00:36:50 | |
Join Lucy Clayton and author Adrian Tinniswood to celebrate the launch of his new book. With the grandest houses in Britain as the backdrop to this episode, we take you to a period where tradition meets tripping out and grandeur gets groovy. We’ll gatecrash some stately and sophisticated parties and revisit a fair few society scandals too. Links | |||
| 28 Nov 2019 | Episode 35: Playful Pageantry: Costume revelry at the Royal Opera House | 00:37:00 | |
Every year from the late-nineteenth century Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House opened its doors for a night of costumed revelry. Urbanites from all social levels dressed up in the most creative of costumes and vied for some very special prizes, from grand pianos to bicycles. Lucy and Ben become very excited (more so than usual) as they become historical voyeurs. The episode is presented in conjunction with our partner Penhaligon’s and their Iris Prima fragrance. As ever, accompanying episode images are available on our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to the show, you’ll surely know somebody else who would, so please spread the word. While you’re at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you’d like us to cover in a future show. Show notes
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| 25 Nov 2022 | The Definitive Guide to Dressing Up – A History of Fancy Dress in Britain | 00:54:44 | |
Lucy Clayton is joined by Verity Wilson, author of Dressing Up: A History of Fancy Dress in Britain, for a glorious exploration of the creative and chaotic ways costume plays a role in national identity. Full of inspiring and surprising ideas to recreate at home, this is the ultimate costume party. See the remarkable images that accompany this conversation on our Instagram: @dressfancypodcast. Links
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| 24 Jun 2022 | Unhidden: Disability, accessibility, and universal design in fashion – with entrepreneur and activist Victoria Jenkins | 00:35:31 | |
Lucy Clayton is joined by Victoria Jenkins, Founder and CEO of the clothing brand Unhidden. Victoria is an award winning adaptive designer, disability advocate, write and speaker and here she shares her story, as we discuss socially responsible, inclusive fashion. Please support our micro donation campaign for the charity Beauty Banks. Text BEAUTY to 70490. Links | |||
| 13 May 2022 | How to Care for the Shoes, Bags & Clothes You Love with The Restory | 00:50:40 | |
Lucy Clayton is joined by Emily Rea, Co-aFounder of The Restory for a masterclass looking after the stuff you love. From simple reheeling to full blown reimagining - discover how aftercare can transform your wardrobe, future-proof your favourites and be part of a more sustainable approach to fashion. Please support our micro donation campaign for the charity Beauty Banks. Text BEAUTY to 70490. Links | |||
| 11 Nov 2022 | The House of Embroidered Paper – Reimagining Regency Fashion with artist Stephanie Smart | 00:56:29 | |
Host Lucy Clayton visits artist Stephanie Smart, on location at Worthing Museum, for a masterclass in quilling and a tour of Stephanie’s work – Regency fashions crafted only from paper. In this extraordinary, intimate behind the scenes episode we learn about Stephanie’s creative process, the relationship between research and reality and how to become a “woman of quality”. Links | |||