This glamorous and insightful exhibition is the perfect way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Cosprop.
‘Actors walk into Cosprop with just a script and the name of their character. They walk out with that character forming in their mind, having brought him or her to life through the angle of a hat, the fabric of a coat or the feel of a pair of shoes” said John Bright costume designer and founder of Cosprop which helped film and television production companies create many incredible costumes over the 60 year period.
From the 1972 BBC television production of War and Peace, all the way through to the 2020 film adaptation of Emma and beyond, this exhibition is a real treasure trove of discovery – particularly for fans of period dramas.
Gloriously displayed at the Fashion and Textile Museum, there are treats to behold everywhere you glimpse. Particular highlights (and where most people tend to linger) are the iconic costumes from the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, that are displayed alongside the 1995 luxuriously designed costumes for the film adaptation of Sense & Sensibility (1995).
As well as the costumes themselves, the exhibition features the words of designers who have collaborated with John Bright and Cosprop over the years to add an additional depth and understanding to the hard work that goes into creating these costumes.
Perhaps the exhibition does feel a little bit restrained and could use a little bit of extra room to breathe, but there is no doubting that this does feel like a well rounded celebration of everything that the company has achieved over the years.
Costume Couture really highlights the fascination and love of period dramas over the years, while also being honest on how it is having to adapt in the wake of technology highlighting every details of a costume more than previously.
Throughout the show there are plenty of signs asking for people not to touch the costumes and it is completely understandable why so many are put up – the temptation to really see how the textures of a costume help to create a character is very difficult to resist. This is particularly evident through the showcasing of several Downton Abbey costumes, which have a glorious range of fabrics that really showcase the characters perfectly.
Just as in the costumes, the attention to detail throughout the exhibition is impressive. The information is informative and accessible for those who are less knowledgable about the industry, while offering plenty of insight into the specifics into several characters and the decision making process behind costumes such as that for Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow or how Queen Victoria’s dress was recreated with such splendour for the ITV series for example.
Arranged chronologically, the sheer expanse of work that Cosprop as a company has created is exceedingly impressive – particularly when you consider that what is on display here is only a small percentage of what they have accomplished. Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop really takes visitors behind the scenes of costume making and its importance as a job.
What also shines through is John Bright’s knowledge and understanding of just how a costume can pack a powerful punch in terms of the little details (which can be missed on. screen) to help convey not only the character but how their story plays out on screen. It is fascinating to hear (particularly in the first room how Bright began Cosprop through his love of collecting pieces from fleamarkets).
Overall, Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop is a dazzling and informative exhibition that will appeal to fans of film, television and theatre or those hoping to get into the industry themselves. There is a lot to be take away from it.
By Emma Clarendon
Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop is on display at the Fashion & Textile Museum until the 8th March 2026.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️