Fact v. Fiction: Just How Accurate Is Outrageous as a Portrait of the Mitford Sisters?
Diana, Jessica, Unity, Nancy, Deborah, and Pamela Mitford were six of the most talked-about women of their time, so it's natural to wonder whether all of the stories in Sarah Williams's screenplay—based on Mary S. Lovell's 2001 book The Mitford Girls—are actually taken from real life. Well, fear not; we're here to sort out all the fact vs. fiction so that you can enjoy your viewing of the first two episodes of Outrageous without constantly pulling up Wikipedia to verify just how big of a fascist Diana Mitford actually was. (Spoiler: A really big one.) Find everything you need to know about the real-life history behind Outrageous below:
Was Diana Mitford really married to one of the richest men in London?
Well, yes! Before Diana wed Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists, her first husband was Bryan Guinness, heir to the barony of Moyne and the Guinness family brewing fortune. Guinness was one of London's 'Bright Young Things,' a group of aristocrats and socialites given that name by the tabloids because of their penchant for partying, drinking, and drug use; and the Guinness family's net worth would have been around $983 million today, making Diana's first husband undoubtedly one of the richest and most eligible men in her peer group at the time they met.
Was Nancy Mitford's fiancé Hamish Erskine really gay?
Erskine was, indeed, as 'out' as it was possible to be in pre-WWII England, even engaging in an affair with Nancy's brother, Tom Mitford, while at Eton College. Still, he captured Nancy's heart; the male lead in Nancy's first novel, Highland Fling, is based on Erskine. 'Hamish was a perfectly ghastly character,' art historian and The Horror of Love author Lisa Hilton told the New Zealand Herald recently. 'But Nancy was still quite prim and spinsterish and I do wonder if there wasn't some sort of subliminal self-protection, because she spent so long with him. By not getting married, as her contemporaries did, very early in their 20s, she sort of preserved herself. She did have many more suitable men who wanted to marry her but she carried on with the giggling Hamish. I think that says a lot about her own sexual issues ... perhaps she didn't want to get married.'
Did hunger marchers really come to the Mitfords' doorstep?
There's no specific evidence to suggest that hunger marchers actually protested outside the Mitfords' family home (as they're seen doing in Outrageous), but known pacifist Jessica Mitford developed her keen sense of social justice early in her life, and in her 1960 autobiography Hons and Rebels, she describes the political landscape of London thusly: 'Hunger marches, at first small demonstrations, later involving populations of whole areas, were reported in the papers…Old concepts of patriotism, flag-waving, jingoism were under violent attack by the younger writers. The creed of pacifism, born of a determination to escape the horrors of a new world war, swept the youth. I responded, like many another of my generation, by becoming first a convinced pacifist, then quickly graduating to socialist ideas.'
Were Unity and Jessica Mitford really close?
It might seem surprising that Unity and Jessica were so close, given the extreme divergence in their politics, but the way they're depicted shopping, strolling, and debating serious ideas together on Outrageous is grounded in real life. Born three years apart (Unity in 1914, Jessica in 1917), the two shared a bedroom growing up, with Jessica's side decorated with hammer and sickles and pictures of Vladimir Lenin and Unity's decorated with swastikas and pictures of Adolf Hitler. However, their relationship would also be marked by periods of estrangement.
Did Unity Mitford really have a pet rat?
Apparently so, according to Lauren Young's 2022 book Hitler's Girl: The British Aristocracy and the Third Reich on the Eve of WWII, which notes that Unity 'attended balls with her pet snake, Enid, around her neck and let loose her rat, Ratular, when things got boring, which they invariably did.'
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Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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As the flagship fashion event for Asia, CENTRESTAGE not only celebrates virtuosity in design and craftsmanship, but also propels both local and international brands into the broader Asian market, supporting the vigorous development of the local fashion industry and reinforcing Hong Kong's status as a global fashion hub and world-class East-meets-West centre for cultural exchange.' This year's CENTRESTAGE welcomes fashion brands from across the globe, including pavilions from the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Japan and Thailand. The UK is participating for the first time as the 'Partner Country' of CENTRESTAGE, showcasing unique creations from various British designers. Globally acclaimed fashion maestro Jimmy Choo will not only attend CENTRESTAGE in person but also spotlight his visionary initiative – the Jimmy Choo Academy – showcasing works by emerging designers nurtured by the Academy. 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She previously participated in HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter in 2010, closing the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza with a spectacular finale. For CENTRESTAGE ELITES, Guo will present 30 one-of-a-kind couture creations under the theme 'Gilternity: An Everlasting Radiance', drawing inspiration from the dazzling, fleeting moment of flowing molten gold. Fusing traditional craftsmanship with modern art, the collection epitomises her unparalleled artistry and technical mastery. In a gesture that honours both tradition and innovation, Guo has invited students from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to collaborate on the opening piece for the show. This grand occasion will be livestreamed on the CENTRESTAGE website and Instagram, the HKTDC's YouTube channel, Facebook and official pages, and across multiple platforms including ViuTV Facebook and Yahoo HK. On the second day of the event (4 September), Guo Pei will appear in person for a master sharing session, offering rare in-person insights into her creative journey and design philosophy. Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show celebrates designers' creative journey On the evening of 3 September, the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show will take the stage under the theme 'A Decade in Design: What is Seen' What is Felt'', exploring Hong Kong designers' creative journeys. Four Hong Kong designer brands – ANGUS TSUI, ARTY: ACTIVE, IP AXIS INDUSTRIALSTUDIO and selfFab. – will showcase their innovative collections, merging visual impact and emotional narrative to spotlight the unique creativity of Hong Kong fashion design. Six thematic zones showcase sustainability and diversity CENTRESTAGE will be staged across six distinctive thematic zones, each offering its own unique appeal. The new Accessories Zone will present an array of fashion jewellery, handbags, footwear and other refined fashion accents, where style and function are seamlessly intertwined. The Athleisure Zone will champion activewear that unites aesthetics with practicality, reflecting the growing prominence of sports-inspired looks. The Craftsmanship Zone will showcase exquisite techniques and artisanal mastery that pay homage to heritage skills, while the Contemporary Zone will unveil forwardâ€'thinking, avantâ€'garde creations from cuttingâ€'edge designers. The Urban Zone will spotlight youthâ€'driven trends, including labels such as Petrolhead, helmed by artist Louis Cheung, which fuses motorcycle culture with a streetwear edge. Completing the lineup, the Circular Fashion Zone will advocate the possibilities presented by sustainable style, headlined by the 15th Redress Design Award Final at which the winning ecoâ€'conscious collections will be showcased, promoting the industry's focus on environmentally friendly design. The four-day fair will present a rich variety of happenings, including student showcases from PolyU's School of Fashion and Textiles and the Hong Kong Design Institute, as well as an interdisciplinary exhibition from the Fashion Farm Foundation that combines music, art, product design and intangible cultural heritage, featuring traditional crafts such as gold-thread embroidery in bridal gowns and the making of Canton silk. A record-breaking total of 28 fashion shows will be held throughout CENTRESTAGE, featuring brands such as 112 mountainyam, CAMMIE CHAN CHEONGSAM, DorisKath, and KOWLOON CITY BOY that showcase the vibrant energy of the fashion industry. LOCAL POWER 2025, a cross-cultural project curated by Asian New Generation Creativity Design Association, will officially launch during CENTRESTAGE. This initiative will bring together designers from Hong Kong and Korea, presenting a thoughtfully curated exhibition and runway show that will help to foster cultural and creative exchanges between the two places. 'THREAD OF CREATIVITY – Fashion Design Competition 2025" and Knitwear Innovation and Design Society Limited (KIDS) featuring the Young Knitwear Designers' Contest 2025 will also be held during the fair period. The HKTDC will continue to invite buyers from around the world to source at CENTRESTAGE, including major multi-brand stores such as WDLT 117 Apparel Inc. from Canada, Zalora from Indonesia, Sugar Srl from Italy and Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores from Japan. Spotlighting new talent at the YDC The grand finale of CENTRESTAGE 2025 on Saturday, 6 September will be the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC), dedicated to discovering and nurturing new local talent. This year's competition will continue to promote a spirit of innovation and experimentation, allowing participants to fully showcase their creativity while injecting fresh talent into the industry. Charles Jeffrey, the designer behind the London label Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY, has been invited as guest judge, joining a panel of other industry professionals to select winners from the 10 finalists vying for four major awards: Champion, Excellence Award, Best Art Direction and My Favourite Collection. Members of the public are invited to participate by casting votes online ( ) for their favourite collection. Designer brands JESSE LEE and both former participants in the YDC, will showcase their new season special collections alongside guest performers at this year's YDC finale. CENTRESTAGE will be staged in parallel with the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TIME, with visitors able to view the latest products from some 400 watch and fashion brands at the same venue. The fairs will also feature the CENTRESTAGE x Watch & Clock Lucky Draw. The brand-new CENTRESTAGE Instagram account ( @centrestage_hktdc ) is now officially live and will be updated with the latest event information and fashion trends. Everyone is welcome to follow and stay closely connected with all the latest happenings at CENTRESTAGE. Photo download: Websites - CENTRESTAGE: - CENTRESTAGE ELITES: - CENTRESTAGE Instagram: - Fashion Hong Kong: - Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC): Media enquiries Best Crew Public Relations & Marketing Diana Tang Tel: (852) 9199 6723 Email: [email protected] Reni Kwok Tel: (852) 6291 4283 Email: [email protected] HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department: Sharon Ha Tel: (852) 2584 4575 Email: [email protected] Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: [email protected] HKTDC Newsroom: About the HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) established in June 2024, formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, promoting the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia's creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community to implement Hong Kong's positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. CCIDA's website: Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.
