A Poldark-Inspired Fashion Shoot in Norfolk

In our recent Poldark-inspired photoshoot, we set out to follow Demelza’s story through costume: from servant to lady of status, one outfit for each phase of her life. Sophia modelled all four looks, and Sue Hardy built the costumes.

Costume 1: The Servant Era

For Demelza’s early days as a servant, Sophia wore a white muslin blouse with a plain brown cotton skirt, a brown velvet jacket and brown boots. Muslin and cotton were the practical, unadorned fabrics of the late 18th century working class, and the plain brown palette suits where her story starts.

Costume 2: The Married and Prosperous Era

After her marriage to Ross Poldark, Demelza’s clothes become more refined. Sophia wore a cerise pink satin dress with a formal black coat, black hat and black boots. The satin says money and confidence, and the structured coat and hat add the formality her new position demanded.

Costume 3: Formal Elegance

For Demelza as the wife of a Member of Parliament, the third look was a white blouse with a long black skirt, a formal black coat and black boots. The long skirt and tailored coat follow the gentry fashion of the period, and the near-monochrome palette carries the seriousness of that stage of her life.

Costume 4: A Modern Interpretation

The final look broke from the period entirely: a purple net skirt with a tweed riding jacket, a black bowler hat and black riding boots. The net skirt brings colour and playfulness, the tweed and bowler nod to British equestrian dress, and the mix gave us something none of the previous three looks could.

Locations

We used two locations near Bungay:

1. Disused Quarry: The exposed rock faces and rough ground gave us a stark, dramatic backdrop that suited the servant-era costume. Nothing pretty, nothing soft, which was the point.

2. Country Lane: A quiet lane near the stables where Sophia’s pony Jack lives. Overhanging trees and dappled light made a gentler setting for the refined later costumes.

Equine Companions

The horses did a lot for the period feel:

• Gagman: A purebred Arabian with a racing history. Gagman photographs beautifully, all refined lines and presence, and he gave the riding images their polish.

• Al Mutamarred (Mutley): Also a purebred Arabian. Mutley never raced, but his distinctive fleabitten grey coat and calm nature made him easy to work with and lovely on camera.

• Jack: Sophia’s 13-hand, 19-year-old Welsh Section C pony, Jack, brought the personal touch. His dun coat and compact build sit in nice contrast to the taller Arabians, and the bond between him and Sophia shows in the frames from the lane.

This project was a collaborative effort between myself and stylist Sue Hardy. The idea was to blend fashion photography with historical storytelling, and the costumes, locations and horses together got us close to the spirit of Poldark without simply copying it. It was one of the most ambitious Elegant Exposures shoots so far, and the one we learned the most from.