Iris Brooke facts for kids

Iris Evelina Margery Brooke, who later became Iris Giffard, was a talented British artist, writer, and book illustrator. Born in 1905, she was active until at least 1967. Throughout her career, Iris Brooke focused on exploring the history of clothes and fashion. She loved to study and draw how people dressed in different times.

About Iris Brooke

Iris Brooke was born in January 1905 in Ryde, a town on the Isle of Wight in England. She went to Bruntsfield High School on the island.

Her Art Education

From 1923 to 1926, Iris studied art at the Croydon School of Art. After that, she continued her studies at the famous Royal College of Art in London until 1929. One of her teachers there was Randolph Schwabe, a well-known artist.

Her Career as an Artist and Author

After finishing her studies, Iris Brooke created many portraits using oil paints and chalk. However, her main passion was writing and illustrating books about historical costumes and fashion. She also wrote articles for different magazines and journals. Her work was so respected that she became a member of the Women's Press Club.

In 1944, Iris Brooke married William Hugh Giffard. They settled down near Honiton in Devon, a beautiful county in England.

Books by Iris Brooke

Iris Brooke was known for her detailed books about historical clothing. She either illustrated books written by others or wrote and illustrated her own. These books help us understand how fashion changed over hundreds of years.

Books She Illustrated for Others

Iris Brooke brought other authors' words to life with her drawings. Here are some of the books she illustrated:

• English Costume of the Nineteenth Century, 1929, by James Laver
• English Costume of the Eighteenth Century, 1931, by James Laver
• A Pageant of Kings and Queens, 1937, by Constance Mary Matthews & Charles Carrington
• Arpies and Sirens, 1942, by Susan Knowles

Books She Wrote and Illustrated Herself

Iris Brooke wrote and drew the pictures for many of her own books. These books are a great way to learn about the history of clothes:

• English Children's Costume Since 1775, 1930
• English Costume in the Age of Elizabeth, 1933
• English Costume of the Seventeenth Century, 1934
• English Costume of the Early Middle Ages, 1936
• A History of English Costume, 1937
• Western Europe costume and its relation to the theatre, 1939
• English Costume 1900–50, 1951
• Four Walls Adorned: Interior Decoration 1485–1820, 1952
• Pleasures of the Past, 1955
• English Costume of the Later Middle Ages, 1956
• Dress and Undress, 1958
• English Children's Costume Since 1775, 1958
• Costume in Greek Classic Drama, 1962
• Western European Costume and Its Relation to the Theatre, 1963
• Medieval Theatre Costume, 1967