Atelier Blog
(previously CelebrityDressmaker.com)
Discover the couture details of each garment

Gallery of Finished Ensembles

The Coronation Couture Exhibition: A Race Against Time

The journey to bring the Coronation Couture exhibition to life in less than four months

A Royal Revival: Crafting the 1953 Coronation Robe Masterpiece - Part IV

Mastering 1953 Coronation Robe Techniques, Handling Silk Velvet & Royal Couture Secrets

Creating a Court Dress--on a Budget and a Deadline

Creating a Court Dress, includes a free pattern. Gain valuable tips on using pre-made embroidery and insights into coronation traditions.

The British Red Cross Uniform by Norman Hartnell

Hartnell-designed British Red Cross volunteer uniform pattern released for the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Behind the Crown: the Royal Commitment to Humanitarian Service Part I

Norman Hartnell's Red Cross sewing pattern from 1953 highlights his wider influence and the monarchy's commitment to serving the people

A Stitch in Time: Woman's Illustrated Magazine - Culture & Fashion in the UK

UK's Woman's Illustrated was a leading weekly publication for women, providing haute couture sewing patterns and articles.

Part III: Deciphering the Coronation Robe Through the Toile

Technique of creating structure with shoulder line darts, invisible herringbone armholes, catch-stitched collar & modifying patterns

Part II - Coronation Fabric: The Challenges When Creating a Historically Accurate Robe

Making a historically accurate coronation robe is challenging due to the difficulty of sourcing materials.

Part I: Coronation Robe for Viscountess or Baroness

Hartnell's publication of a coronation robe sewing pattern aimed to balance the sentiment of rationing with royal grandeur.

Part V. Mastering Key Couture Concepts: Creating a Coronation Dress by Norman Hartnell

Using a Norman Hartnell coronation dress pattern from 1953, we explore key couture techniques that were used to bring this design to life.

Part IV: The Perfect Foundation for the Coronation Gown

The reader will learn key couture concepts on how to create a boned underdress for a couture gown using whalebone and cotton net fabric.

Part III - The Quest for the Perfect Fabric: Finding Fabric Fit for Royalty

The quest to find the perfect fabric for a dress inspired by British royalty. Journey with me to find the perfect royal fabric.

Part II: The Toile - The Process Behind a Historical Hartnell Dress Recreation

Making the toile for the Coronation gown. There's no petticoat. The volume is created by using horsehair braid.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Coronation Exhibition Through Norman Hartnell's Sewing Patterns

Announcement of an upcoming exhibition and presenting the Norman Hartnell Coronation Ball Frock from 1953.