Overview
Sarah joined AUB in 2014 and has taught costume making, costume design and critical theory alongside dress history on all levels of BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design. She was appointed Course Leader for BA (Hons) Costume in September 2020.
Sarah is a costume maker, designer and historian and has been teaching for sixteen years. Prior to joining AUB, she taught GCSE and A-Level Textiles at a range of local schools and sixth forms.
After graduating from AUB in 2003, Sarah worked as a costume buyer and supervisor, gaining industry experience at The Royal Opera House, National Theatre and Met Opera.
Sarah is a PhD candidate at University of Brighton.
Contact:
Qualifications
Qualifications
- PhD to be completed 2024 (University of Brighton)
- MA History of Textiles and Dress (Winchester School of Art)
- BA (Hons) Costume for Screen and Stage (Arts University Bournemouth)
Teaching Qualification
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Research
Research Interests and Projects
Sarah is currently undertaking a PhD at University of Brighton. Her research focuses on the impact of government directives, such as clothes rationing, the Utility scheme and austerity measures, on clothing design, manufacture, quality and consumption patterns during the Second World War.
Sarah wrote Making Vintage 1940s Clothes for Women, for which she received AUB research support. The book aims to teach period sewing methods through the construction of reproduction 1940s garments. It also aims to give the reader a better understanding of how economising measures during the war affected the manufacture and acquisition of clothing.
Sarah also used her ongoing research to write an article entitled ‘Standardised or Simplified? The Effect of Government-Imposed Restrictions on Women’s Clothing Manufacture and Design During the Second World War’, which was published in The Journal of Dress History and for which she was awarded The Dress Historians Award.
Sarah recently presented a paper on fair shares of clothing during the Second World War at The Design History Society conference in Newcastle.
More recently she has contributed to a project entitled Re-Dressing History, focusing on the underrepresented dress and textile history of BIPOC groups. This led to a lecture series focused on underrepresented dress histories for BA (Hons) Costume students.
My Research Gallery
Professional Engagement
Sarah embraces AUB’s collaborative ethos and has designed and project-managed several in-house productions including:
- The Mermaid and the Oyster promenade performance, The Gallery’s Bathing Beauties exhibition and the Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival, September 2014
- Assistant curator for the AUB exhibition, A Stitch in Line, showcasing work by Costume, Fashion and Textiles students and academics, The Gallery, October-November 2015
- Costume designer for Jambusters, a live flash mob performance on the university campus, May 2016.
- Costume designer and project manager for A Woman’s Place, satirical interpretations of 1950s domestic adverts, February-May 2018
- Designer and project manager for the Barbie project, a collaboration with Creative Forager, Level 4, 5 and 6 Costume students and BA Photography staff and students, January-May 2019
- Project manager for the Bikes & Bloomers project, a level 4 costume-making reinterpreting 1890s cycling outfits, May 2020
Externally, she has made costumes for Father Brown and pantomime.
Sarah has created industry links with museums and theatres, which have resulted in live opportunities for costume making students and work placements. Her close association with a range of dress historians has developed knowledge in this area through a lecture series featuring guest academics. She is also developing the BA (Hons) Costume Archive to fully embed observation of extant garments into the curriculum and by forging links with external researchers.
Awards and Prizes
Notable awards/prizes
- AUB Research Support Fund (2015–2016)
- Association of Dress Historians Award (2017)
- The Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education, for 'Distinguished degree level education in costume design for the UK's leading creative industries’ 2018 (BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design)
- AUBRIETA Gold award for teaching 2019 (BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design)
Memberships
Advance HE Membership
- Fellow (FHEA)
Professional Memberships
- Association of Dress Historians (2016-present)
- Design History Society (2019)
- Southern Counties Costume Society (2019-present)
- DATS: Dress and Textiles Specialists (2019-present)
- Costume Society (2021-present)