{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1783780"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1783780/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PJ8986/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PJ8986/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PJ8986","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PJ8987","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PJ8984","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PJ8985","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1783780/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1783780","accessionNumber":"S.917:1 to 9-2024","objectType":"Costume","titles":[{"title":"Costume for Maggie Smith as Charlotte Bartlett in <i>A Room with a View</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"John Bright OBE is an award-winning British costume designer and the founder of Cosprop, a world-leading company that  provides historically accurate costumes for theatre, film and television. This costume for Maggie Smith as Charlotte Bartlett in <i>A Room with a View</i> was co-designed by John Bright and Jenny Beavan OBE.\r\n\r\nThe 1985 film <i>A Room with a View,</i> directed by James Ivory and produced by Ismail Merchant, is based on the 1908 novel of the same name by E.M. Forster. The plot follows Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter), a young Englishwoman who navigates the restrictive, class-based society of the Edwardian era. While travelling around Italy with older cousin Charlotte Bartlett (Maggie Smith), she meets the free-spirited George Emerson (Julian Sands) but after returning to England, she becomes engaged to Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day-Lewis), an upper-class, arrogant gentleman. The supporting cast includes Simon Callow, Judi Dench and Rupert Graves.\r\n\r\nThis costume is worn by the character of Charlotte Bartlett while sightseeing in Florence. The blouse and belt are original Edwardian pieces. The raincoat was originally worn by Siân Philips in the 1974 BBC television series <i>Shoulder to Shoulder</i>. Bright then designed the skirt and smaller accessories to complete the costume. Through use of antique materials and historically informed design, Cosprop costumes are imbued with an authentic aesthetic. Part of the success of Bright’s work is in his innovative approach. He does not create design sketches, but rather works directly with the actors and garments, selecting historical pieces to ‘build’ the final costume. The costume fitting is a crucial first step in this methodology, as contemporary body shapes differ from their historical counterparts. As a result, garments must be tailored for contemporary comfort whilst also retaining their historic essence. Each costume was built with the character in mind. For example, Charlotte’s more rigid and structured outfits contrast with the light, romantic dresses of her younger cousin, Lucy.\r\n\r\n<i>A Room with a View</i> was a critical and commercial success. The subtle humour, beautiful settings and detailed approach to British history changed the way period dramas were produced. The film won Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction and Best Screenplay Adaptation at the 1987 Academy Awards, as well as Best Film, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Maggie Smith), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Judi Dench) and Best Production Design at the 1987 BAFTAs. \r\n\r\n<i>A Room with a View</i> was a breakthrough for many of the cast members, including the big-screen debut for Helena  Bonham Carter. The film was also praised for Maggie Smith’s performance, whose character of an upright, serious British woman of the upper-social class would become a familiar trait in her later castings, such as her character in <i>Downtown Abbey</i> (2010 - 2015) or Lady Bracknell in <i>The Importance of Being Earnest</i> (1993).\r\n\r\n<i>A Room with a View</i> heralded a long-lasting creative collaboration between Merchant Ivory and Cosprop. Bright and Beavan became the film company’s in-house designers, working on films including <i>Maurice</i> (1987), <i>Howard’s End</i> (1992), <i>The Remains of the Day</i> (1993) and <i>The Golden Bowl</i> (2000).","physicalDescription":"Grey smocked and embroidered long sleeved blouse with a linen front opening. Fawn wool panelled skirt. Dark brown double breasted raincoat with cuff detail. Starched white collar. Grey Petersham bow attached to collar with a safety pin. Leather belt with metal decoration at front. White cotton petticoat and bumpad. Straw hat with cream silk bow.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"John Bright","id":"AUTH401785"},"association":{"text":"designers","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Jenny Beavan","id":"AUTH404489"},"association":{"text":"designers","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Cosprop","id":"A35466"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"linen","id":"AAT14069"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"},{"text":"wool","id":"AAT243430"},{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Costumes","id":"THES269529"},{"text":"Film and Cinema","id":"THES264410"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2025PJ8986","2025PJ8987","2025PJ8984","2025PJ8985"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"105","id":"THES49926"},"free":"","case":"CA011A","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1985","earliest":"1985-01-01","latest":"1985-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Cosprop Limited","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"57","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-02","latest":"2024-07-02"},"part":"blouse","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"33","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-02","latest":"2024-07-02"},"part":"blouse","note":"shoulder to shoulder"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"66","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-02","latest":"2024-07-02"},"part":"blouse","note":"sleeve"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"32","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-02","latest":"2024-07-02"},"part":"blouse","note":"waist (flat)"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"147","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-02","latest":"2024-07-02"},"part":"raincoat","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"39","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-02","latest":"2024-07-02"},"part":"raincoat","note":"shoulder to shoulder"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"67","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-02","latest":"2024-07-02"},"part":"raincoat","note":"sleeve"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-02","latest":"2024-07-02"},"part":"raincoat","note":"neck (flat)"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This costume was worn by Maggie Smith as Charlotte Bartlett in the 1985 film <i>A Room with a View,</i> directed by James Ivory and produced by Ismail Merchant, based on the 1908 novel of the same name by E.M. Forster.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Costume designed by John Bright and Jenny Beavan for Maggie Smith as Charlotte Bartlett in <i>A Room with a View,</i> 1985","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.917:1-2024","S.917:2-2024","S.917:3-2024","S.917:4-2024","S.917:5-2024","S.917:6-2024","S.917:7-2024","S.917:8-2024","S.917:9-2024","S.917:10-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"917","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-16","recordCreationDate":"2024-07-05","availableToBook":false}}