Real Dresses of the Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia Romanov | Fashion History

In this video we take a deep dive look into the real dresses and fashion history behind the famed Romanov family. The four sisters, the Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Nikolaevna ("OTMA"), wore gorgeous gowns, many of which have survived and are in museums and exhibitions today. The history behind these gowns, the materials, and the dress designers will be discussed, along with answering some questions about the gowns, such as how they survived and why the Romanov family used fake pearls.
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- Chapters
00:00 - introduction
1:33 - 1904 miniature court dresses
2:55 - Olga's regimental uniform
4:28 - Tatiana's regimental uniform
5:22 - Maria's regimental uniform
6:00 - Anastasia's regimental uniform
6:30 - 1911 pink court dresses
7:50 - big pair's pink ballgown
9:50 - Maria's pink dress
11:20 - Tatiana's red and pink dress
13:25 - Tatiana's pearl dress
15:31 - big pair's 1913 formal dress
16:26 - big pair's 1913 court dresses
18:55 - Anastasia's blouse and domestic life
20:30 - conclusion and sources
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- Physical sources - see source end card for more information and sources
1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna: Complete Tercentennial Journal of the Third Daughter of the Last Tsar, Helen Azar, Amanda Madru, 2017
Correspondence of the Russian Grand Duchesses: Letters of the Daughters of the Last Tsar, George Hawkins, 2020
Journal of a Russian Grand Duchess: Complete Annotated 1913 Diary of Olga Romanov, Eldest Daughter of the Last Tsar, Helen Azar, 2015
Last Years of the Court at Tsarskoe Selo (Volumes 1 and 2) 1910-1914, Alexander Spiridovich, originally published 1928
Russia's Last Romanovs: In Their Own Words, Helen Azar, Eva McDonald, Dan McDonald, 2013
Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters, 1913-1918, Helen Azar, Nicholas B.A. Nicholson, 2015
The Diary of Olga Romanov: Royal Witness to the Russian Revolution, Helen Azar, 2013
Thank you for watching and take care!
If I pronounced "chignon" correctly, it will be a miracle.
#history #romanov #fashionhistory #historychannel #romanovsisters #otma

[@voyaristika5673]

So beautiful. It's impossible to see these girls without thinking of their tragic ending. Thank you for sharing.

[@DMfilmfan]

In the late 90's I went twice to a huge Romanov exhibit in Delaware. So many of the family's clothes, their surviving diaries, Catherine's ceremonial carriage, an Imperial throne, Faberge treasures, family photos - so many wonderful things to see.

[@stefaniekuzminski9575]

I saw that exhibit as well with my Dad in Wilmington. It was amazing and we had a lovely time. Thank you for sparking a beautiful memory. ❤

[@s.h.741]

I'd love to see their tennis costumes, they mention tennis a lot in their diaries. I'd also love to see some of the embroideries, crochet and other fine crafts by the Tsaritsa's hands. She was an extremely accomplished needlewoman, and I have always wondered whether anything was preserved.

[@ellasinquiries]

A few of Alexandra's embroideries have survived, alongside some of the Grand Duchesses. I will think about compiling these into a video, thank you for the suggestions!

[@EtaSjelleMeTresje]

I just want to comment on Tatianas´s regimental uniform and the colours. The colours blue and yellow are basically the Swedish flag, with a yellow cross on blue background. In old photographs these colours turn out like a Finnish flag looking like a dark (blue) cross on a white background. On the Swedish wikipediapage of the Swedish flag (sadly this part is not translated to English) you can find the information that older photographic plates with the orthochromatic emulsion used at the time were much less sensitive to red light than they were to blue light. In the negatives, this led to underexposure (dark parts) in the blue fields and overexposure (light parts) in the yellow fields. When inverted into photographs, this effect was reversed and produced a light flag with a dark cross. This effect can be seen in photographs from the late 1800s to early 1900s, but is generally only noticable with flags, as you would have no way of knowing in most other cases. Every Swede reacts to the strange Swedish flag in old photographs and the explanation is the technology of the time. So she probably had a yellow breastplate on a blue uniform.

[@ellasinquiries]

That is amazing and so fascinating, thank you so much for this information! So useful, I appreciate it!

[@ET_Bermuda]

One thing I love that the dresses point out is the color-distortion caused by black and white photos from back then. The regimental dresses really look nothing like how they look in real life with proper color added.

[@monicacall7532]

Gorgeous dresses! I love women’s clothing styles from 1910-1920.

[@ellasinquiries]

me too! they are wonderful!

[@trixi1608]

Me too. It's by far my favourite decade clothing-wise in the 20th century.

[@elsakristina2689]

As someone who’s been fascinated by this family and these girls for twelve years so far and has known about their surviving clothes for just as long, it feels awesome seeing it being covered like this. It’s always exciting when newly discovered photos or belongings of them come to light.

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you so much, that means a lot! I appreciate it :)

[@louisemccoy9410]

I went to Wilmington Exhibit , too. It brought on such sadness for their tragic and grotesque ends. Tho, a wonderful exhibit ! ❤️

[@LuLu-in-a-MuuMuu]

Beautiful!! I agree that the everyday clothes add layers to these girls- they're not just royalty but girls with dreams and hobbies. I'd love to see more clothing of the other members of the imperial family!

[@MSK-jd5fi]

This was so well researched and presented. The lives of the Grand Duchesses were incredibly privileged but they had no agency in those lives. It’s so sad to think about their deaths, but I live to think about the closeness they had in their family. I hope that was some comfort to them.

[@Fiftynine414]

I’ve been reading about this family since I was a little girl, since 1971. I have devoured everything I could get my hands on, which in the 70’s, wasn’t that much. I did get to Standford in 1978 to see photos and articles concerning their captivity and deaths. You know so much more than I and I enjoy learning about the Romanovs, especially these exceptional young ladies. Thank you.

[@ulakostrzewa7772]

you're definitely underrated! this video was very well researched and great to watch!

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you so much!

[@Kimberly-cx9uv]

Oh the Edwardian dresses, especially ballgowns, were soo very pretty!

[@larrywakeman4371]

Subscribed to ALL notifications! You are lovely, poised, and your presetation is worthy of a museum curator, one of my dreams..... thank you for this wondderful presentation. Kimberly

[@claudiadorsett1860]

So glad to have found your video. I can appreciate your care and research in presenting a tangible link to lives lived so long ago and ending so tragically,

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you so much, that is very kind!

[@judithcoloma613]

I'm surprised that any of these dresses survived. You have done well.

[@artofcal]

Very well done! I discovered you through your Instagram and by chance found this video! I love these deep dives into OTMA. Lovely.

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you so much!

[@ericmoore571]

I very much enjoyed this! Thank you!

[@ellasinquiries]

I'm so glad! Thank you!

[@jennyo2o154]

Excellent video love it 🙌🏻🤩

[@mjlvnv]

The dresses are all so beautiful. It’s so sad what happened to the family, especially the children. I loved hearing all the history. Great video!

[@shellyshakeup]

Amazing content can’t wait to see more ❤

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you so much for your kind words!

[@Melissa-he3lo]

Thank you for your well-researched video. I am glad I found your channel.

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you!

[@maramcmanus9669]

Very well done video!

[@lindaczerwinski3312]

Thank you!! I loved this!

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you for watching!

[@vanessajohnson4547]

Fantastic video! I stumbled across this and am very impressed with your knowledge and articulation. Looking forward to more!

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you so much, that's very kind!

[@ddivincenzo1194]

So very beautiful and well preserved, thank you. OTMA has intrigued me for years.

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@amynoland9162]

Very interesting and well done, thank you!

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you for watching!

[@larrywakeman4371]

I lOVE the head pieces at 6:41 !!!

[@rickjensen2717]

Well done Ella, excellent research and very well presented 👏

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you very much!

[@janewhite2234]

This was truly one of the best videos I've ever seen in the duchesses fashion and I cannot wait to see more!

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you so much! I appreciate it :)

[@ricr8987]

What an incredible channel! I have just found you and I am already learning so much! Congrats Ella! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you so much, this means a lot!

[@MichellebytheBay]

Very interesting really enjoyed this video

[@alisonhoyte7608]

A wonderful video you have made thanks very much so intriguing I have often wondered about the clothes as well.

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you!

[@larrywakeman4371]

You should have a MILLION subscribers! Kim!

[@michaelflick1177]

Tragically certain items would have been worn on the night of the demise of 0TMA and subsequently destroyed. These were probably the cardigans. Also items would have worn out. The girls did not have access to many of their belongings during their time in Ekaterinburg. It would be interesting to find out what items are held in the Armoury Museum inside the Moscow Kremlin. The wife of Prince Ioan, Princess Helen of Serbia, mentioned having access to clothing when she was held for a time in Moscow.

[@annasolovyeva1013]

Armoury... Mainly - coronation gowns and priest attires. Nothing belonging to the sisters, probably except for jewelry. See, the Kremlin armoury is mostly historically a treasury because it's probably the most guarded of Russian museums. The coronation gowns are there because they're embroidered with jewelry. OTMA's stuff has historical value, but it's not goldwoven.

[@exaudi33]

Well done, just wonderful. Thank you!

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you so much!

[@jessicamoores6138]

Great On You! I really enjoyed this video. Thank You and Gods Speed❤️

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you! You too!

[@mollyfarrell.]

Congrats on the find!

[@elsakristina2689]

I remember finding photos of the 1913 formal gowns (not the court dresses) on a Russian museum catalogue website back in 2020 or 2021. It really does make you wonder what more dresses of the girls’ are out there just waiting to be found and revealed. The shoulders on those dresses make me wonder if they might have been handed down to Maria and Anastasia for the 1914 formals with the bodice pattern modified. I love the cardigans and knit caps they wore too, they look so comfy.

[@BeeKool__113]

Oh, these pieces are all so remarkable and just stunning. Especially some of their formal court attire. When you mentioned the new findings, I could see how thrilled and happy you were to hear of this latest and not well known news. You are so passionate and it was very nice to see how excited you were about these most recent discoveries. ❤

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you so much! I’m so glad that you noticed ❤️

[@Canuck13]

How did these fabulous items survive? I thought that the Bolsheviks destroyed or stole everything. I’m so glad these surfaced and are protected for all time. This is amazing. Thank you from 🇨🇦

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you for your kind words! The clothes survived, untouched, for several decades, most likely due to the Bolshevik's turning the Alexander Palace into a museum. During WWII, however, the Winter Palace and Alexander Palace were evacuated, and shrouds were needed to cover up the precious furniture and art. The people transporting these objects found the Romanov's clothing, and thought that they would be perfect protective covers, and used them to transport the items!

[@m.videla8864]

I love those dresses. Thank you!

[@ellasinquiries]

thanks for watching!

[@historylover13]

Thank you for this - the dresses are so beautiful! I had a chance to visit the Hermitage in 2017 and it was breathtaking, truly a different world. Your research is most appreciated, and again, thank you for sharing.

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! The Hermitage must have been incredible

[@robert-pj3bc]

Wow that was great! Thank you, from NJ.

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you so much!

[@Kimberly-cx9uv]

Please do more videos like these! mabye of the Empresses dresses? or perhaps Queen Victorias?

[@ellasinquiries]

of course! I'll do some research! Thank you for watching :)

[@roberthossen8354]

Very interesting, thank you so much!!! There's so little on this topic. Could you please at some point make a video on the Russian coronation robes for the tsars and tsarinas? I understand quite a number of coronation robes still exist. I'm also curious to the coronation dresses...

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you for watching! Of course, I'll do some research. The robes are stunning!

[@condelevante4]

This is a well done report. Gracias

[@ellasinquiries]

gracias por sus amables palabras!

[@anabelvargas6987]

Felicidades por tu excelente trabajo 👍. Que hermosos vestidos de las Hermanas Romanov.

[@ellasinquiries]

muchas gracias para tu palabras simpática!

[@sittinginthebasement]

A lovely presentation! While Marie is my favorite of the girls, I agree with you about Olga's diaries and those of Konstantine Konstantinovich being the most interesting. Since K.R. had no interest in influencing the Tsar in matters of state or participating in political intrigues, he was privy to the Royal chatter of his many relatives, and only repeated what he heard in his diaries. He was a talented, complicated man, and we are lucky to have access to his inner thoughts.

[@petravazanska5707]

The girls had such beautiful hair..

[@grammy965]

Really good job dear 🙋🏻‍♀️❤️

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you so much! 💗💗

[@larrywakeman4371]

Stellar presentation- from the GREAT U.S.A.!!! Lovely! Kimberly

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you so much! 🇺🇸👋

[@inaleyen2737]

Your videos are excellent!

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you so much! 😁

[@JeffreysLittleVilla]

Great video!!

[@ellasinquiries]

thanks!

[@juliatrecet1740]

Muchísimas gracias desde España me ha emocionado ver lis vestidos de mis queridas Mártires Reales un abrazo

[@ellasinquiries]

¡Gracias por sus amables palabras! ¡Te lo agradezco!

[@susanpolastaples9688]

This is wonderful.

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you for your kind words!

[@ardiffley-zipkin9539]

Well done research & presentation. Good luck with your work & channel. Blessings

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you very much for watching and your kind words! Blessings to you too ⭐

[@lavenderflowersfall280]

How could anyone hurt those poor girls? Demons. Made to burn in hell. 😡

[@serahloeffelroberts9901]

I believe at one point the Royal family applied for asylum in Britain but the Tsar s English cousin King George feared that it would destabilize his monarchy so said no. I don't believe that anyone could have foreseen the ruthless killing of the entire family. At the time they were held prisoner in Ekaterinburg a civil war was raging between the White's and the Reds and the Red captors feared the Whites would free the Tsar and use them as a rallying point so decided they all had to be destroyed. I am glad the bodies have been recovered and given a proper interment together in death as well as in life.

[@johnpickford4222]

@lavenderflowersfall280: That sentiment has often been expressed. Nicholas and Alexandra should have worked with Alexander Kerensky to leave the country by crossing with other family members, money and wealth to Vladivostok and then to Australia. How could they possibly think they would be safe remaining in the country.

[@Tucker68284]

great video very interesting

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you!

[@robinbarrett5301]

I love the big beautiful hats.

[@EllenCFarmGirl]

Ella, what a fantastic presentation! I can’t thank you enough! I really enjoyed your level of knowledge and the occasional off script moments! Fantastic! I am binge watching all your other videos, and even watching the BBC Ghosts. On a side note, my Great Grandmother immigrated to the USA from Russia, just prior to the revolution. My Grandmothers name was Olga, her and her sisters and brother were named after the Romanov Children. I have been and equestrian my entire life and my Grandmother told me I inherited my skills from the Russian side of the family. 😂. I love history and spooky stuff as well! Again THANK you from Colorado, USA❤ Ellen

[@ellasinquiries]

Ellen, thank you so much for your comment, it really made my day! It's so great to hear that you enjoyed the videos 😁 and thank you so much for sharing that piece of family history, that's fascinating! How interesting that they were all named after the children, what a cool fact. Totally can see your equestrian skills coming from that side of the family! Thank you again 💙💙

[@EllenCFarmGirl]

@@ellasinquiries looking forward to more videos! I am sure your channel will take off. I really like the mix of textiles and history, plus your cute personality!

[@stephenanable4365]

Great research.

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you!

[@priestessthea]

Excellent. Bravo!

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you!

[@Canuck13]

To me those girls are the most exceptionally beautiful royals who ever graced any place on earth. Those who cut their lives short robbed us all. So sad.

[@joslynscott466]

Excellent. I plan to watch a second time

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you for your kind words!

[@vxdoll]

I applaud you for your research Wonderful video 🥹

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you so much!

[@Carol-D.1324]

This was so much fun to watch. The dresses are stunning. How are they able to hang the dresses with thread that is over 110 years old? More like these please! Had to subscribe. 👍

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you so much!

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

On the channel of _The British Museum,_ you can find some videos about fabric/clothing preservation. 😊 It's so fascinating to me!

[@Carol-D.1324]

@@thekingsdaughter4233 Thank you! I will definitely check that out.

[@midwifelife]

Wonderful video, thank you. I find it hard to see the children knowing what happened to them, I've been intrigued by them for over 40 years. Seeing their clothing is so poignant knowing those beautiful girls wore these. Its fascinating to see the colours when they are always black and white. Thank you for sharing this

[@morenarolla5187]

Grazie. Molto interessante. È un argomento coinvolgente.

[@ellasinquiries]

Grazie per aver guardato!

[@chgem.2658]

Thank you very much. Is there a new exhibition?

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you for watching. Yes, there is a new exhibition currently on at the Hermitage Museum called 'OTMA and Alexei', featuring lots of clothing, drawings, postcards, and more.

[@chgem.2658]

@@ellasinquiries Thank you. Just watched the crown and was so shocked again about this massacre.

[@despinaxenoulis5904]

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS !!! ♥️👑🇷🇺☦️🇷🇺👑♥️

[@juliatrecet1740]

Saludos desde España gracias por responderme en Español vi otro video creo de Hermitage los vestidos de La Santa Zarina Alexandra me dio pena pues no estaban bien expuestos sino allí colgados de cualquier manera los oresento la señora Julia creo y pienso que deberían ser expuestos.con más delicadeza

[@hotmeish]

❤❤❤

[@chachasendic]

How safe was riding on the side? I found this very weird..

[@Koolkitty_9]

I've been at studyinf this family for over 16 years now and i never thought id see them on my family tree, SOMEHOW. Thanks to my grandma for hooking up with a guy 😂, now I can say OTMAA are my tenth cousins three times removed 😂😂. Would love to see their things irl 😩

[@melbabowen4389]

💗💗💗💗💗

[@jenniferl9784]

She was very accomplished in needlework. She taught my mom how to knit and during WWII they knit caps for the British Soldiers. My grandmother had developed severe rheumatoid arthritis so she couldn’t crochet by the time I came around. But she taught me language and she always wore a dress. She never wore pants and walked to work every day.

[@johnpickford4222]

@jenniferl9784: Who is “she” that you reference? Empress Alexandra?? Alexandra taught your mother to knit??

[@yoongiyuu3086]

@@johnpickford4222sometimes youtube glitches and places people’s comments under different videos, i’ve been seeing it all year. i’m assuming this may be the case here, otherwise…🥴

[@jenniferl9784]

Yes. I speak because my family whom isn’t supposed to bother us in exile , decided to attack innocent people because of their desire of assets. Their fear that the imperial house will be unavailable to them. Their greed destroyed our freedoms and every day is a hell she has brought upon us. Why am I so vocal here? I am sick of her videos regarding their death. My family was exiled under protection status to he USA because certain members of the Tsars family was his enemy. I never met him as he died before I was born, but I do know the bone of contention was using imperial house assets to build the country and strive for a democratic future with the monarchy holding much but not all of the duma. It’s very sad. We are just normal people who don’t want any part of that family, yet they hunt us still. So much for secretive exile.

[@alexbramley195]

You should do their normal clothing!

[@ellasinquiries]

Will do!

[@RevLeigh55]

Really amazing these dresses and uniforms survived all the chaos in Russia in 1918. The two older daughters were considered as potential brides for European royalty. With the hemophilia gene likely carried by at least some of the girls, they could have passed it further into other royal families.

[@ellasinquiries]

Indeed, DNA analysis found that Maria was the carrier of the haemophilia gene. Diaries, letters, and memoirs also suggest that she showed some traits of this, such as bleeding more than normal during an operation.

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

​@@ellasinquiriesreally? From what _I_ read, besides Alexej of course being a hemophiliac, _Anastasia_ was the (only!) one of the daughters who was found to be a carrier... - ah well, either way, it was only one of them; but they couldn't have known back then. And so each of them would have been "under suspicion". 😞 Just like Queen Ena's daughters... 😞🤷

[@ladyagnes9430]

You mention Olga & KR being very honest in their diaries. Who is KR?

[@ellasinquiries]

Great question! KR was Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov, who went by 'KR', for Konstantin Romanov. He was a grandson of Nicholas I, so was a relative of the last Tsar and his family. KR was a poet and playwright, and translated lots of English plays into Russian, which he and his family performed. His diaries were published in the 1990s and many historians were astonished by their contents: he was very frank about his life and opinions, and his diaries revealed that he had been struggling with his sexuality for years. He is a fascinating figure! I hope that this answered your question :)

[@susandelongis885]

Your research and information are so impressive, as are your photos, but flipped through too fast for me to see much.

[@ellasinquiries]

Thank you for watching and for the feedback, I will try and improve on that in future!

[@andreamarin4296]

I own two very beautiful Birman cats. I names them Olga and Tatiana in honor of the beautiful Czarinas.

[@Cate7451]

OTMA

[@sixtenjohansson4246]

Was one of the girls smoking in one of the last pictures?🤔

[@ellasinquiries]

Yes! Anastasia is smoking, she was about 15-16 in that photo. All of the girls smoked and wrote about it a lot in letters to their father. It was believed to have health benefits!

[@milobaret8672]

You seem so younger but you know a lot. 😅, interesting video btw

[@rococo9342]

ロシアの人は美人が多い。貴方も凄く可愛い。

[@shirleybalinski4535]

It is too bad the dresses are not displayed on full forms instead of hangers where they hang sort of sad & folorn. Also I notived some of the crocheted or silk flower details are kind of curled so as to give the appearance of not being steamed or ironed properly. Overall display presentation is sloppy...wrinkled, sagging & limp.

[@ellasinquiries]

The recent exhibition at the Hermitage Museum are using mannequins, which looks much better than hangers in my opinion. Unsure about the conservation processes (if any) which have been taken, but I agree that hanging them limply certainly doesn't help!

[@RED-cy7ig]

So terrible that the dresses were needlessly damaged to protect other items.

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

At least this way, we may still see, study and admire them. Better than the likely alternative- burned or sold for rags. Many of the magnificent , priceless jewels were dismantled and sold as scrap... 😞

[@suejuede525]

In the times of these girls lives a woman and girls blouse was called a waist

[@leonardoravecca606]

👋😀🪡💎🪡👍

[@laurentbeaulieu4443]

Very well done and interesting, thank you.

[@ellasinquiries]

thank you for watching!