CHARLOTTE Bronte may be an icon for her writing, but it's her clothes that are the focus of a new exhibition.

And Defying Expectations: Inside Charlotte Bronte's Wardrobe reveals that the literary legend was also quite a fashion guru of her day.

More than 20 pieces of her clothing, and accessories, are on show at the family's former home – the parsonage, in Haworth.

Amongst them is a striped evening dress which was only recently confirmed as belonging to Charlotte, and is being displayed for the first time.

Whilst her most famous protagonist – Jane Eyre – was a conservative dresser, Charlotte engaged with latest fashions.

The exhibition is being co-curated by the Bronte Parsonage Museum and Dr Eleanor Houghton – a historian, writer and illustrator.

Ann Dinsdale, principal curator at the museum, said: "When I first started working here we couldn’t actually display some of the items included in this exhibition as people simply wouldn’t have believed that they belonged to the family, they were so outlandish!

"We always have at least one of the sisters’ dresses on display, because they are so popular. Just seeing the personal items these young women wore brings out an emotional response from audiences.

"I think this exhibition, showing Charlotte’s sense of style and her interest in contemporary patterns and materials, will surprise visitors and I am incredibly excited that we have been able to focus on her wardrobe for the first time anywhere in the world."

Beaded moccasins on show are thought to have been a gift from Charlotte's publisher in New York.

And she was most likely the first person in Haworth to own an 'Ugly Bonnet' – a fashion item she would have bought on a visit to London.

The striped dress was discovered during renovations. It was proved to be Charlotte’s following extensive research by Dr Houghton.

She said: "My research has revealed that seismic changes in Charlotte’s life and circumstances are clearly reflected in her surviving clothing. And although the items that remain make-up just a portion of those owned and worn by the novelist throughout her lifetime, these varied and often surprising pieces are able to offer a unique insight into both her ordinary and extraordinary lives."

The exhibition runs until January 1, 2023, and admission is free with entry to the museum. For more details, visit bronte.org.uk/visit-us. Social distancing and Covid safety measures are in place.