Hello, I'm Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces.

You're listening to our podcast that explores the history and stories of our six palaces.

These talks are a collection of some of our best live events.

I really hope you enjoy listening.

Throughout history, the clothing of British royalty has

influenced fashion tastes and trends. This series compiled from our archive explores contemporary

royal fashion and its influence on what we wear today. In this talk, Historic Royal Palace's

curator Alexandra Kim explores how contemporary fashion has taken inspiration from the style of kings and queens of the past.

To begin with, I want to pose you a little bit of a question.

Now, I wonder what do you think the following might have in common. How about

pirates, royal crown jewels and regalia, crinlan skirts of the 19th century, French paintings

of the 18th century and the Teddy Boys of the 1950s. Anyone beginning to link those in any kind of way at all?

Well, all of them are inspirational sources for the Grand Dam of British fashion, Vivian Westwood.

And as I'm sure you're all aware, Westwood's designs are this incredible mix of practicality,

but also inventiveness. And so, so often, she is inspired by historical research, and she will

frequently use a whole range of different museum collections, from the VNA just across the road,

to one of her particular favourites, the Wallace

collection. She has used a whole range of historical styles within her work, whether it's the

romantic dress of the 18th century, the structured clothing you get in the 19th century, and her

work has incorporated tailoring, it's revived the fortunes of that fantastic British fabric,

Harris Tweed. And she's, I think, really created a sense of Britishness that's recognised and admired

the world over. And as you can tell from all of this, much of her inspiration has come from some

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