Tailored Military Mess Jacket

Summer constructed this Victorian military mess jacket for Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s 2020 production of Far from the Madding Crowd – designed by Max Dorey.

Working to interpret Max’s design rather than create a completely accurate military garment summer took inspiration from several sources.

The garment was drafted using an original historical military pattern. Summer finds the challenge of drafting using historical sources especially gratifying. The jacket features embroidered thistles which summer designed using images of traditional Scots Guard and embroidered by hand before stitching them to the garment.

Summer worked closely with the design and supervision teams to draft, fit, construct and finish this garment to the tight deadlines imposed by the company’s schedule.

Trousers cut by Summer York – Made by Lois Edmunds.

Bristol Old Vic’s Young Designers Competition – Titania

This costume was constructed for Bristol old Vic’s Young Designer Competition – designed by Clemence Corp (aged 7).

While interpreting the design summer tried to stay true to the original illustration as much as possible. The petticoat element of this costume consists of a kilometre of ruffled tulle. The dress was drafted by Summer to the models’ measurements and hand painted to resemble the design. Adorning this garment are a flock of hand-beaded hummingbirds. The wings were constructed by hand using traditional Elizabethan standing collar techniques and are held in place by a back plate that Summer made and incorporated into the undergarments of the costume. A carnival style headdress tops off the completed costume.

This costume is currently on display at Bristol Old Vic.

Tailored 18^th Century Suit

This costume consists of frock coat, waistcoat, breeches and period shirt – designed by Design MA graduate Maria Terry. Working closely with Maria to realise the design this project became a great collaboration between the designer and maker.

Summer started by drafting a historical pattern using a grid method, she then drafted modern versions of the same garments and overlayed both patterns in order to scale up the historical draft to fit a modern form while retaining the original period style lines. Summer hugely enjoyed this project and felt that although this process would not be suitable when working to a tight deadline, it was a brilliant learning experience.

Summer mastered CAD for this project. She designed, vectorised, laser cut and applied the fruit themed trim.