Participant Info

First Name
Veronica
Last Name
Isaac
Affiliation
New York University London and University of Brighton
Website URL
Keywords
Theatre Costume, Dress History, Ellen Terry, Aestheticism, Dress & Identity, Nineteenth Century, Theatre History, Museums
Additional Contact Information

Personal Info

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About Me

My interdisciplinary, object based, approach to research has been shaped by my academic training and ten years working in the university and heritage sectors.

Through my MA and PhD Research, and close engagement with museum collections, I have established a particular specialism in the dress and theatre costume of the nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Recent Publications
  • ‘A Well-Dressed Actress’: Exploring the Theatrical Wardrobe of Ellen Terry (1847-1928), Costume 52.1 (2018): 74-96.
  • ‘Walking in Flora and Fauna: A Nineteenth Century Dress and Hat’, a case study produced for the book for the exhibition Fashioned from Nature, V&A Museum in April 2018-2019.
  • Towards a New Methodology for Working with Historic Theatre Costume: A Biographical Approach Focussing on Ellen Terry’s (1847-1928) ‘Beetlewing Dress’, Studies in Costume and Performance 2.2 (2017): 115-136.
  • ‘Costume in Opera’, Oxford Handbook of Opera (New York: Oxford University Press, 2014).
  • Contributor, Shakespeare in 100 Objects: Treasures from the Victoria & Albert Museum (London: Nick Hearn Books, 2014).
  • ‘The Art of Costume: Highlights from the wardrobe of the Painter’s Actress,’ Nineteenth Century Theatre and Film, Volume 39, Issue 1 (Summer 2012).
  • Presuming Too Far ‘above his very base and low degree’​?: Thomas Cromwell’s Use of Textiles in his Schemes for Social and Political Success (1527-1540), Costume, Volume 45 (2011).
  • ‘From Ellen Terry’s Beetlewing Dress to David Tennant’s Leather Trousers: The Off-Stage Life of Theatrical Costume,’ Starstruck in the Cathedral (Worcester Cathedral, Exhibition Catalogue: 2009).
Media Coverage
Country Focus
United Kingdom, Europe
Expertise by Geography
British Isles, England, United Kingdom, Western Europe
Expertise by Chronology
18th century, 19th century
Expertise by Topic
Art & Architectural History, Higher Ed, Material Culture, Museums, Women