Showcasing the talented students of Oaklands College

It was wonderful to work with the Fashion and Design students at Oaklands College, and their tutor Sarah Easterby, to design my High Sheriff’s court dress. This was a real brief and something that I hoped the students could put on their CVs. As part of the brief, the students had to research the role of the High Sheriff and consider how they might incorporate the essential traditional elements of the uniform (which for a gentleman has remained unchanged for many hundreds of years) into an outfit for a female High Sheriff.

I took away many ideas from the students’ designs and put them together into the two outfits that were then made for me. Although my court dress still uses the traditional velvet, lace and steel cut buttons the overall designs, as well as many small details, are inspired by the students’ work.

I am delighted to be showcasing the work of our talented fashion and design students in Hertfordshire as I appear in my court dress during my year in office.