Dressed for War

Delightful talk from the Victoria and Albert Museum on the life of Audrey Withers, editor of Vogue in the Second World War. 

Withers biographer, Julie Summers, gave an affectionate outline of her life bringing out many fascinating anecdotes such as the fact she had a long correspondence with the artist Paul Nash, despite a 16 year age difference and worked as the membership secretary of the SDP for 10 years at the end of her life. 

The bulk of the talk focused on the war years and talked about how she employed some of the most influential photographers of the time to bring the war into the pages of Vogue including Cecil Beaton, Normal Parkinson and Lee Miller. She also talked about her work on the post-war Britain Can Make It exhibition at the V&A, the Festival of Britain and the Coronation Committee. 

Summers talked with affection for her subject as well as being knowledgeable and addressing the questions in a lovely and open way.

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