The House of Eliott -- BBC Drama

The House of Eliott is an award-winning BBC drama set in 1920s London. The House of Eliott featured two sisters, the Eliott sisters, Bea and Evie, who started the London fashion house, The House of Eliott.

This BBC drama aired for three seasons from 1991 to 1994, but The House of Eliott and all the fabulous fashion in each episode is available on DVD and worth watching any time.

Photo of The House of Eliott - Complete Collection courtesy of Amazon.

The Complete Series

Brandy on Amazon said about The House of Eliott that after watching the first season, she couldn't wait to watch more.

I agree. This series combines history, drama, and fashion in one captivating show.

Click the DVD image here to check out The House of Eliott at Amazon.

Get inspired with these 1920's fashion books. Make some fabulous clothes for yourself or costumes with these beautiful designs.

This clip is part 3 of the French and Saunders spoof of The House of Eliott. It is precious! The actresses who play Bea, Evie, and Tilly are good sports and show up at the end of this clip.

"WOW! This is the bible for every fashion enthusiast, professionals in the industry, fashion lovers and really an encyclopedia of 150 years of couturiers, designers and labels." from the description for the book FASHION on Amazon.

"Much has been written about fashion, in all its aspects, but i do not think any couturier has ever before attempted to compile a dictionary on the subject."-from the little dictionary of fashion.

These terms might make watching The House of Eliott more fun.

Fashion designer: conceives garment combinations of line, proportion, color, and texture. While sewing and pattern-making skills are beneficial, they are not a prerequisite of successful fashion design. Most fashion designers are formally trained or apprenticed.

Technical designer: works with the design team and the factories overseas to ensure correct garment construction, appropriate fabric choices and a good fit. The technical designer fits the garment samples on a fit model, and decides which fit and construction changes to make before mass producing the garment.

Pattern maker (or pattern cutter): drafts the shapes and sizes of a garment's pieces. This may be done manually with paper and measuring tools or by using a CAD computer software program. Another method is to drape fabric directly onto a dress form. The resulting pattern pieces can be constructed to produce the intended design of the garment and required size. Formal training is usually required for working as a pattern marker.

Tailor: makes custom-designed garments made to the client's measure; especially suits (coat and trousers, jacket and skirt, etc.). Tailors usually undergo an apprenticeship or other formal training.

Textile designer: designs fabric weaves and prints for clothes and furnishings. Most textile designers are formally trained as apprentices and in school.

Stylist: co-ordinates the clothes, jewelry, and accessories used in fashion photography and catwalk presentations. A stylist may also work with an individual client to design a coordinated wardrobe of garments. Many stylists are trained in fashion design, the history of fashion and historical costume, and have a high level of expertise in the current fashion market and future market trends. However, some simply have a strong aesthetic sense for pulling great looks together.

Fashion buyer: selects and buys the mix of clothing available in retail shops, department stores and chain stores. Most fashion buyers are trained in business and/or fashion studies.

Seamstress: sews ready-to-wear or mass-produced clothing by hand or with a sewing machine, either in a garment shop or as a sewing machine operator in a factory. She (or he) may not have the skills to make (design and cut) the garments, or to fit them on a model.

Custom clothier: makes custom-made garments to order, for a given customer.

Dressmaker: specializes in custom-made women's clothes: day, cocktail, and evening dresses, business clothes and suits, trousseaus, sports clothes, and lingerie.

Illustrator: draws and paints clothing designs for commercial use.

Source: Fashion Design, Wikipedia

Learn more about this style icon. Read one of the many biographies or watch a movie featuring the life and career of Coco Chanel.

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