I will sell Coronation dress as I can’t wear it again, says Mordaunt
Sale of iconic teal robe will do ‘good things’ by funding projects in MP’S North Portsmouth consitituency
PENNY MORDANT is selling her Coronation dress because it has become so recognisable she can never wear it again, she says.
The Leader of the House of Commons is selling the teal, caped gown to fund projects in her Portsmouth North constituency.
The dress – and its wearer’s ability to hold a 3.6kg sword steady for almost an hour – was an eye-catching feature of May’s Coronation.
Ms Mordant, 50, told The Sunday Times Style magazine: “I can never wear it again – unless I’m going to a fancy dress party as myself.
“It’s such an iconic dress that it ought to go on and do some other good things.”
The Conservative MP for Portsmouth North explained the thinking behind the dress’s novel design: “My predecessor at the last coronation would have worn the court dress of the privy council, which is beautiful but obviously designed for a man.
“And I was very conscious that although we were going to have the full coronation robes and all the amazing pageantry, it was also a modern coronation for a modern king.
“I wanted to wear something in which I could stand next to my female cabinet colleagues and not look out of place – while … next to the large number of clergy, the pursuivants of arms, all the military uniforms – and fit in.”
The £1,200 dress was made by readyto-wear label Safiyaa, a brand favoured by the Princess of Wales. The hat was off the peg from Jane Taylor.
Both were embellished by Hand & Lock, an embroidery house founded in 1767 that works with the royal family and many big fashion brands.
“I looked at a lot of images for designs that ticked all the boxes and felt that a cape dress would work really well. It’s got a sort of historical top to it but also gives a nod to the military,” she said.
Having worked with the British Fashion Council on a school outreach pilot to enable more students to follow careers in the creative industries, the Leader of the Commons is also aware of the ability fashion houses have to uplift those who work in it – especially women.
When she was international development secretary, Ms Mordaunt supported Eden, a not-for-profit organisation that teaches jewellery-making skills to Asian women rescued from human traffickers. She said: “I sent one of the necklaces to Meghan Markle. I wanted to demonstrate to her the opportunity she had and what she could potentially do.”
But when asked by The Sunday Times whether Ms Markle responded to this offering, Ms Mordant replied, “No, she didn’t. But it was worth a try.”