MONSTER HEART

Victorian Period (1850) Short Film (15 min) · Costume Designer

DIRECTOR — Priyanga Burford

PRODUCER — Kate Phibbs

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS — Paula Hawkins, Maria Austin

THE DESIGN

Set in the summer of 1850, Monster Heart brings together Mary Shelley, Ada Lovelace and Ianthe Shelley for an intimate gathering at a seaside cottage, where the women’s complex histories, resentments and relationships gradually unfold. Working closely with writer-director Priyanga Burford and an exceptional female-led creative team, I approached the costumes through a distinctly female gaze, prioritising character, psychology and the practical realities of women’s lives over idealised Victorian fashion.

Mary Shelley’s wardrobe was deliberately understated and practical, with softened silhouettes, minimal petticoats and carefully selected antique Victorian laces and trims. The costumes allowed the women to move naturally, become dishevelled, wet and dirty, and inhabit their clothes without the constraints of conventional period-drama glamour. In contrast, Ianthe’s more elaborate, fashionable silhouette projected status and confidence, concealing the resentment and vulnerability she carried into the gathering.

Subtle symbolism was woven throughout the designs. Mary wore a specially reconstructed replica of her original ring, recreated from museum photographs using 3D modelling and printing. Ada Lovelace’s dress featured a bespoke Victorian-style print incorporating a miniature repeat of her pioneering mathematical algorithm. With several costumes constructed entirely from scratch, the design embraced fine historical detail, tactile fabrics and delicate embellishments, creating points of visual interest that supported the cinematography and the emotional subtext of the performances.

2024 Roma Prisma Awards — Winner, Best Costume Design

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