Wracked with physical and psychological ailments, Queen Anne (Oliva Colman) spends a large part of The Favourite (2018) in her nightgown. But when she regains control of her court, the Queen dresses in this ornate, ceremonial robe. While traditional royal robes were solid gold and bejewelled, costume designer Sandy Powell searched for another way to give the queen an air of majesty. Her solution was ermine, traditionally used as decoration in royal garments, but Powell covered Colman’s Queen Anne in it head-to-toe.
Curator notes
See additional images and find out more about this stunning costume from Sandy Powell at the Irish Costume Archive Project website.
One of the most iconic scenes from The Favourite, via the Searchlight Pictures YouTube channel.