Loving {Forever}: Downton Abbey
Yes, friends, I have been struck by the Downton bug. In fact, it's all I can think about lately. The scandal, the romance, the hats. Oh god, the hats! The Mr. and I have been clocking some long hours at our day job and we have done nothing at night but eat leftovers and get lost in the stories and the spaces of Downton Abbey. It's kept me going (Ack! What will I do until season 3 comes out?) so I thought I would do a little Downton round-up to give all the other addicts out there a fix till next season.
All images from Downton Abbey are stills from PBS
On the left: Uniqueness FW 2012, on the right: Mary, in one of her favorite outfits
Clearly, Downton mania has hit the runways too: the series came out a little late for a full-on Edwardian fashion to happen this year but mark my words, by spring we are all going to be wearing eyelet blouses and feathered hats. I've already made vintage fan hair pins one of my new eBay searches!
The key is in mixing vintage pieces with more modern edgy pieces: a blouse with a pair of skinny jeans and boots, a long skirt with a tee for instance. And don't forget to look to the men for inspiration! Military jackets, mixed tweeds and ties are always fun to pair back to more girly shapes.
On the left: Chris Benz FW2012, on the right: Temperley FW 2012
A huge fashion tide shift on the series: Lady Sybil wears pants! What a wonderful moment.
On the left: Codie Young by Alice Rosati for Please Magazine, on the right: Mary loves stripes too!
Ralph Lauren is so into the show that he played the theme song on the runway!
These silhouettes are very "Downton: The Wartime Years". On the left, Burberry Prorsum FW 2012, on the right: Altuzarra FW 2012
On the left: L'Wren Scott FW 2012, on the right: Rodarte FW 2012
I doubt anyone will go full-fledged Edwardian mansion in decorating but I dare you to look at the colors in this room and not get inspired. And the minty greens and pinks against a crimson oriental rug is an oddly modern color palette. And that red couch is kinda to-die-for.
Hysterical Downton paper dolls by Kyle Hilton (maybe you can make up your own stories while you wait?)
Kelsey Garrity made this amazing illustration to show how much she loves Downton.
The Lamps of Downton Abbey, a very witty tumblr, all told from the perspective of, well, the lamps.
A few more nerdy Downton links:
Dollshouse Downton- a video made by two girls, reinacting the show with Silvanian Family dolls.
Some Downton Abbey drinking games
The history of Highclere Castle, where almost all of Downton Abbey is filmed. I love that it's on location!
And finally, if you could be anyone on the show, who would it be? I'd pick Lady Sybil but sometimes I can be a bit of an Edith.
