As always, my 2025 London trip featured a lot of fashion history. (An impressive amount I will say, given that the V&A so very rudely closed the Fashion gallery…) I was fortunate to pieces from across the globe and the centuries, from a wide variety of collections. However, as I’ve been going through all of my photos and momentos, one thing stood out to me- I was able to see a lot of period drama costumes. So, for the first Style File Friday of Blogmas 2025, I thought I would share my favourite royal period drama costumes!
My Favourite Royal Period Drama Costumes
While I enjoy a wide variety of period dramas and don’t tend to limit myself to particular period, location, or theme, it won’t be surprising to anyone that I tend to gravitate towards royal period dramas. You give me court dress and dynastic grumbling and I will watch it at least once. (Probably more than once if I’m being honest.) Today I have chosen some of my favourite pieces that I saw throughout the trip, along with where I spotted them!
Costumes from Victoria (2016-2019), Costume Couture at the Fashion + Textile Museum
I know that a lot of people are not huge fans of Victoria, but this is a go-to period drama for me (especially if I can’t sleep). Is it accurate? Not particularly. Does it gloss over a lot of terrible things in Victoria’s reign? Absolutely. But I enjoy Jenna Coleman and I love the balance between the royal family and household. And once they anachronistically introduced a westie into the second season, I was sold.
If you have a keen eye, you will recognise this dress from the first series, as it is Victoria’s wedding dress and floral headpiece. The designers based their designs on Victoria’s actual dress, which I very much appreciate. And it is joined by one of Albert’s military uniforms, complete with an Order of the Garter chain.
Gown from Marie Antoinette (2006), Marie Antoinette Style at the Victoria and Albert Museum
As one might expect, Marie Antoinette Style featured several pieces from the 2006 film Marie Antoinette. Filmed almost entirely at the Palace of Versailles, costume designer Milena Canonero’s pieces played a major role in the film’s success. (She won the Oscar for Best Costume for her work and for excellent reason!)
While all of her work on the film is impressive, this hot pink gown from the chapel scene cannot help but grab your attention. Firstly, the vibrancy of the pink is incredible, but secondly, I love the staging of the mannequin- you can feel the teenage energy radiating out.
Josephine’s gown from Napoleon (2023), Costume Couture at the Fashion & Textile Museum
I will admit openly, I still have not seen Napoleon. I’ve heard mixed reviews and quite frankly, I don’t know that we need more films about the same men from history over and over. However, I was still happy to see some of the costumes from the production. The mint green gown in the front is one of Josephine’s gowns from the 1800s, while one of Louis XIII’s court suits from the 1780s is behind. (This is one of my only qualms about this exhibition, it can be quite difficult to see some of the pieces due to placement.)
Gown from The Great (2023- Season 3, episode 3), Marie Antoinette Style at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Without any shame, I mildly screamed when I saw this gown in the exhibition. Somehow I had missed it in all of the reviews I read, or perhaps others did not appreciate it for what it is. The Great is one of my favourite shows of all time; I think it is hilarious and brilliant and is a wildly creative production. (How, how did they cancel it after the third season, just when Catherine was hitting her stride??) So, to see one of the costumes from the show was amazing.
And not only was I able to see one of Elle Fanning’s costumes, I was able to see my favourite gown. This striking red gown features a custom-made toile de joy with blue accents, a bold combination. The use of period appropriate patterns with a modern “remix” if you will harkens back to Marie Antoinette, and it especially shows how creative designers can be.
What are your favourite royal period drama costumes?
Cheers,
The Historian
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