Fragrance house

Norman Hartnell

Norman Hartnell opened his own fashion business in 1923 at 10 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London. His creative identity developed from theatrical costume design into embellished evening and bridal gowns, combining sartorial drama with elaborate decorative detail. The house became closely associated with the British royal family after Hartnell designed Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott’s wedding dress in 1935 and the Queen Mother’s wardrobe for her 1939 North American and Canadian tour. During the Second World War, he co-founded the Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers and designed uniforms for the British army, nurses, and women’s police services. His major royal commissions included Princess Elizabeth’s 1947 wedding dress, Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation dress, and Princess Margaret’s 1960 wedding dress. Hartnell was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1977. After his death in 1979, the house passed through new designers and ownership, including a relaunch collection by Marc Bohan, before closing in 1992 after the Gulf War and early-1990s recession. By 2013, a Fung Capital subsidiary was identified as its holding company.