Ara asked Jodi Taylor:

Hi, Jodi! I just started reading The Chronicles of St. Mary’s and I really want to know more about the Wardrobe Department. How does the department look like? Do they create each garment specifically for each jump or do they have a few pieces in rotation? What happens to the clothes after the jumps? Sorry for asking so many questions, the concept of costuming for time travel is just so fascinating :)

Jodi Taylor Hi Ara. Well, you've opened a whole can of worms, haven't you? Staff in the Wardrobe Department wear green smocks, at least three tape measures and their own bodyweight in pins. There are two main areas - the working area where costumes are designed and made - and the storage area where everything is kept afterwards. Nothing is ever thrown away. There are generic costumes - I believe Max has a favourite 'maid's outfit' of some brown material with shiny patches over her knees where she's knelt down in it. The addition of a bum roll or collar or surcoat or shawl renders it suitable for many time periods. Then there are specific costumes designed for major events - eg Mrs Green's Waterloo dress. Which she never got to wear. Even these can be adapted and altered as required. A further component is researching costumes for TV and film dramas. These are designed and made on site and then shipped off to their ultimate destinations. Wardrobe is the only department to pull its own weight financially. It's a nice place to work. Very quiet - no food or drink, obviously and sprawls over two floors. How's that?

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