Costume designing is her dream job

By Staff
IN COSTUME Kimberly Stockton-Moore is a costume designer and former resident of Collinsville. She is shown here in a costume she designed from this portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. Moore will wear the costume and portray Queen Elizabeth during the Tennessee Renaissance Festival. Submitted photo
By Penny Randall / staff writer
April 13, 2003
Kimberly Stockton-Moore's job doesn't take her to an office. She doesn't sit behind a desk. And she doesn't type the day away at a computer.
Instead, this former Collinsville resident, uses her imagination to create one-of-a-kind costume designs. Her latest is a recreation of a gown wore by Queen Elizabeth I.
Stockton-Moore, 28, spent a month working on the gown she recreated by hand from a 400-year-old portrait that hangs in the Castle Gwynn, a replica of a 12th Century border English castle in Franklin, Tenn.
She also will wear the 20-pound costume and portray Queen Elizabeth I in the upcoming Tennessee Renaissance Festival at the castle, which has taken place every weekend in May and on Memorial Day for 19 years.
Sparked interest
Stockton-Moore got her first taste of design during a home economics class in high school. In college at O'More College of Design in Franklin, Tenn., she indulged her interest more.
Stockton-Moore used materials such as silk, wool and linen, even a metal trim, to reproduce Queen Elizabeth's gown.
She actually made two versions of the same gown, a silk version to wear on hot days and a cotton velvet to wear in rainy days. It will take her about three hours each day to get ready for her appearance at the festival.
World traveler
Stockton-Moore's job has taken her to many countries.
Stockton-Moore also has been a costume designer aboard several cruise ships.
She said there's never a boring day when you're in charge of a wardrobe aboard a cruise ship.
Costume design
After the Tennessee Renaissance Festival, Stockton-Moore will head to Pennsylvania for a few months to design costumes for eight different plays.
She said her favorite period to design for is the 18th century. "It's the biggest and most flamboyant period for clothing," she said.
The Castle Gwynn is also special to Stockton-Moore because that's where she met her husband, Ripper Moore. The couple married in 2000 in a ceremony at the castle.
Stockton-Moore still has family in Meridian. Her aunt is a teacher at Meridian High School and has asked Kimberly to visit her class and talk to students about her job.