Shirley Ann Russell

Russell studied Fashion at Walthamstow College of Art, and she later attended the Royal College of Art. She ran her own firm of film costumiers, called The Last Picture Frock, particularly specialising in 1930s and 1940s clothing.^[1] The firm was sold to the costumier Angels^[2] in the 1970s. Her interest in historic costume began when she assisted Doris Langley Moore, the founder of the Fashion Museum, Bath.^[3] She was a widely-acknowledged expert on period costuming and was often called upon by art dealers to help them date paintings.^[4]

Russell's costume designs were detailed and nuanced, using costume to show subtle distinctions in class.^[5] She was known for the weight and authenticity her design lent to characters.^[6] In 1969's film Women in Love her designs signalled the social and cultural differences between the two Brangwen sisters and the Crich family, and were nominated for a Best Costume Design BAFA. She designed for stars such as Vanessa Redgrave in A Song at Twilight,^[7] Rudolf Nureyev in Valentino^[8] and Roger Daltrey in Lisztomania.^[9] Her design for Daltrey was described by Russell as "fantasticated gear" - the jacket had huge labels featuring keyboard motifs.^[10] Another "fantasticated design" is 'The Acid Queen' from Tommy.^[11]

Collaborations with her husband Ken Russell included: Women in Love, Amelia and the Angel, The Music Lovers, The Devils, The Boy Friend, Savage Messiah, Mahler, Tommy, Lisztomania, and Valentino. Russell's other credits include The Little Prince, Lady Chatterley's Lover, The Return of the Soldier, The Razor's Edge, Hope and Glory, The Bride, Yanks, Gulliver's Travels, I Dreamed of Africa, and Shackleton.

Russell was born as Shirley Ann Kingdon in London, England. Whilst studying at Walthamstow College of Art, she met her husband the film director Ken Russell, to whom she was married from 1956 to 1978.^[24] They both converted to Roman Catholicism prior to their marriage.^[25] They had five children: Xavier, James, Alexander, Victoria and Toby. Following her divorce from Ken Russell, she lived for many years with director Jonathan Benson in Chiswick.

She died from cancer^[26] in March 2002, one week before her 67th birthday.