This beautifully beaded robe à la française an excellent example of how the lighting in different films can affect the color of a dress. The dress can appear white, silver, gold, and even a dark gray, depending on the lighting. In reality, the dress is white with silver beading, gold embroidery, and hanging pearls. The sheer amount of detail in this gown is incredible.

This dress was made for The Madness of King George in 1994, where Helen Mirren wore it as Queen Charlotte. In 1999 it was worn by Jodhi May as Lady Sarah Lennox in Aristocrats. The dress was seen in the background, worn by extras in the 2001 film film Le pacte des loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf), as well as The Affair of the Necklace.

In 2006 it was used in the episode of Doctor Who entitled The Girl in the Fireplace, where Sophia Myles wore it as Madame de Pompadour. At this point, the pearl drops on the engageantes (lace cuffs) seem to have mostly fallen off. Brooches or bows of some sort also seem to have been added to the top of the stomacher at this point to give it a different look.

As a fun side note – in the Doctor Who Confidential, where they discuss the making of the episode The Girl in the Fireplace, Sophia Myles mentions in an interview that her dress was a castoff from The Madness of King George. She goes on to say how excited she was to be wearing something that had previously been worn by Helen Mirren.

See more beaded costumes here!