Dress 1. The Tafetta Dress

This was the dress that started it all. It was made of red/black shot tafetta with a maroon organza overlay. The skirt had pink godets, and there was an array of pink drapes both from the shoulders and also in the skirt.

The bodice of the dress was decorated with a starburst pattern of sequins in silver and magenta with silver star applique running diagonally from the right shoulder to the left hip. The neckline was decorated simply with a chain of gold faceted beads, and the belt was a simple yellow cord held on with belt carriers on either side of the dress. The sleeves comprised over sleeves in maroon organza with the cuffs decorated with gold faceted beads. The undersleeves were of the red and black shot tafetta, and they came to a point on the back of the hand.

Raymond Childe (costume designer) told me that this dress was based on a wedding dress that a member of his family had. Unfortunately, it was not popular with the sound crew of the show because tafetta rustles terribly, and this was always being picked by the microphones.

 

Dress 2. The Velvet Dress

This was Tallulah's most enduring dress, being used for both "Strikes Again" and "Bounces Back". The picture above was taken during the "Strikes Again" period (the hairstyle gives it away).

It was made from a deep wine coloured polyester velvet, with rust coloured godets in the skirt. The sleeves again were composed of an over and undersleeve, the former being bell shaped, and lined with gold lame. The undersleeve was made from the rust coloured velvet, tapering to a point on the back of the hand, and having a little gold braid design at the point.

This was the first dress to use the elaborately decorated neckline and girdle (belt) that was to become a motif of the future dresses. In this case, the decoration was composed of gold lace layered over red fabric, and (on the belt) this was layered over a red, black and gold lame brocade in a flame design. Silver sequin star appliques are stuck to the lace, and loops of gold faceted bead chain and fancy pendants decorate the edge of the belt.

This was my favourite T-Bag costume, and is the one I associate most with Tallulah (since it was the longest running). Raymond told me that it was not the best of the bunch, and that he thought it had a "Christmas Tree" type quality to it.

 

Dress 3: The Silk Chiffon Dress

This dress was rather spectacular. Again, we see the neckline and belt motif, and it was Tallulah's most intricately decorated dress. It was made from bright red silk chiffon, so it was probably her most expensive dress to boot. The skirt had drapes of pink and royal blue chiffon also, and there were drapes of red, blue and pink from the centre back of the dress to the floor. Again the dress had over and undersleeves, the over sleeves being batwing in style, and made from a single layer of chiffon. The undersleeves were more substantial, and again tapered to a point.

The neckline trim was edged with strings of pearl beads, and the trim iteself was made of a bronze coloured fabric with a wavy red lame and gold applique design. This was accented with glass embroidery stone in both oval and star shapes in red, green and crystal (colourless). The belt was more elaborate. The same bronze fabric was used, but the applique took the shape of flames interlacing and branching. Where the branches of the flames ends were sewn pearl drop beads both on the outside of the stremer of the belt, and on the edge. The edges of the belt were decorated again with the pearl strings. A large crystal formed the centrepiece of the belt, and the lower edge of the waistband was decorated with golden spider webs with large pearls at each corner.

This dress, although breathtaking, was troublesome on camera. Since it was such a bright shade of red, it had a tendancy to "bleed", i.e. there is a constant red haze visible around the dress when you watch the show. Raymond never used bright red for television again without toning it down in some way as a result of this.

Dress 4: The Star Dress

This dress was a big departure from the "Traditional" T-Bag dresses, in that it didn't have a medieval or gothic feel to it. It was also her only dress that wasn't red. Another version of this dress was made for when T-Bag's plans came to fruition. It was the Black Star Dress that can be seen at the end of "Turn On to T-Bag" and "Revenge of the T-Set".

The dress was made from silk dupion in red, lilac and lavender/red shot. The skirt was composed of three layers: a lilac silk underskirt, a red/blue shot organza overlay, and an overskirt of black tulle with embroidered silver stars. The bodice had a starburst pattern similar to that seen in the first dress, but in dark blue sequins. It also included moon appliques as well as stars.

The batwing sleeves were lost in favour of a bouffant sleeve.

T-Bag's tiara also underwent a radical transformation. This one, rather than beeing the usual wangly-dangly stars, was a series of hoops elaborately decorated with gold suns, filigree silver stars, gold moons, emeralds, sapphires and small silver mirrors.