A wedding outfit currently on show at the National Museum of
Costume near Dumfries will head to a film set on Monday to feature
in a new movie directed by superstar Madonna.
The material girl has just started shooting her directorial
feature debut, W.E. – a film about a young married New
Yorker who is obsessed with what she perceives is the ultimate
romantic love story, King Edward VIII’s abdication for his love of
Wallis Simpson.
Madonna has requested the use of a replica of Wallis Simpson’s
wedding outfit, which is currently on show as part of the National
Museum of Costume’s Marriage in the
Movies exhibition. The outfit was previously worn by Joely
Richardson, who played Wallis Simpson in the 2005 television
production Wallis and Edward. It was designed by Michael
O’Connor and will be worn by actress Andrea Riseborough. Andrea
will play Wallis Simpson in the movie, which has been written by
Madonna and Alek Keshishian.
This will be the last weekend that the dress will be on show at
our Museum so we would urge any film and fashion lovers to come
along to see the Wallis Simpson outfit and all the other amazing
gowns that make up this great exhibition.
Marriage in the Movies will run until 31 October 2010 and also
features stunning wedding dresses worn by film stars including
Meryl Streep, Keira Knightley, Natasha Kinsky and Helena Bonham
Carter in film and television productions ranging from Pride
and Prejudice and The Duchess to Mansfield
Park, Tess and Frankenstein.
The costumes are used within the exhibition to
show the development of the wedding dress since the 18th century
and illustrate many of the fashions and styles of the periods
represented on screen.