I love period films, BBC & beautiful costumes – so it was no surprise that I fell in love with the movie Testament of Youth.

This powerful story is based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain, which has become the best-selling & classic testimony of that war from a woman’s point of view.

Particularly focussing on the heroism of a golden generation of young men – her fiancé Roland Leighton and brother Edward among them – who were sent to die in the trenches.

Directed by James Kent, and with a stellar cast featuring some of my English favourites Emily Watson, Taron Egerton, Colin Morgan & Kit Harington.

Also introducing me to rising star Alicia Vikander – who positively shone in every scene.

It also features incredible vintage costumes by Consolata Boyle – in scene after scene, we see Alicia in ravishing period dress.

There are the jumpers and long skirts she wears for walks in the Derbyshire hills near her parents’ house in the summer before the war and the neat nurse’s uniform which she wore when posted to a war hospital in Camberwell in south London.

Costume designer – Boyle consulted pattern books from the 1910s and scoured vintage shops for fine chemises, shirts and blouses from the period.

I particularly love the outfit above which she wore as her wedding outfit – an original vintage coat with real fur collar & pillbox hat.

Designer Boyle insisted Vikander wear a new outfit in every scene, making me lust after her entire vintage wardrobe from the film.

Photo credits: Laurie Sparham Sony Pictures Classics Release