Ciara Phipps is the assistant curator of social history at Southend Museums Service, working extensively with the dress and textiles collection. The daughter of a wedding dress designer and maker, Ciara has spent many years surrounded by bridal gowns.Claire Reed is the conservator at Southend Museums Service, and previously worked as a theatrical costumier and seamstress. She also spent several years working as a self-employed wedding dressmaker.