Behind The BAFTAs: Daisy May Cooper’s Swindon Dress

Would you ever wear a football shirt to an awards show?

At this year’s BAFTAs, one of Sew’s favourite female comics, Daisy May Cooper, dared to wear a bright red football dress on the red carpet. It was created by one of our lovely designers, Fiona Hesford, on special commission. “When I found out it was for my friend Jane’s niece, Daisy Cooper, one half of the talented ‘This Country’ BBC 3 comedy duo, well I just couldn’t resist!”, says the Sew designer.

Daisy May plays Kerry Mucklowe, who, along with brother Kurtan, brilliantly showcases rural Cotswolds life in this original mockumentary.

CREPE’N IT
Daisy’s dress was cut from red polyester crepe, - a whole 3.5m of it, in fact. It must have been Daisy’s lucky token, as the show swept the floor with two BAFTAs for Best Scripted Comedy and Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme.

The dress was carefully designed and stitched by Fiona before being picked up in person by Daisy’s mother and co-creator of the show, Daisy’s on-screen cousin and real-life brother, Charlie.

GET THE LOOK
If anyone wants to get Daisy May’s look, Fiona advises to first find a suitable pattern that gives you a good silhouette. “I recommend tracing off lettering with the official football league font using bonding web, and using some sequin stretch trimming for the striped edging. The fabric is quite slippery, so place it on a fleecy blanket to stop it sliding around when you’re cutting. Lastly, use a new machine needle to prevent snagging”.

To customise your dress, use a badge cut from a football shirt, pin it in place and secure it with bonding web before stitching.

But finally, how do you iron such a dress to ensure it’s carpet-worthy? “A cool iron with a protective cloth and lots of steam!”

Andrew Steele, spokesman for Swindon Town FC, said here that if the dress was stocked in the club’s shop “it would sell out more than the home shirt.” “It’s a great dress and probably deserves a place in our trophy cabinet,” he added.

We think the dress and its own stitchy story is a winner in its own right, and we would like to congratulate Daisy May and Charlie for the well-deserved awards! 

For more of Fiona’s great makes, visit her blog at sewgirlblog.wordpress.com