Downton Abbey Style

With Downton back on our screens, we can think of nothing better than spending our chilly Sunday evenings curled up in front of the telly.

This week’s episode caused despair across the nation as one of the best-loved characters Anna Bates was brutally attacked in yet another Downton shocker you never saw coming. Whilst we wait for the aftermath of such a powerful episode, there is a more light-hearted Downton topic we can focus on until then…

There are plenty of reasons to watch downton abbey. From the gorgeous scenery and lavish antiques to traditional British heritage of butlers tending to their Lords (the world that seems like a distant memory), Downton is one of the most popular dramas of recent years.

The First World War is over and a new way of life has emerged. A lenience towards traditional ways and the daring music scene has been prominent in this series, but it is the fashion that still remains to grab our attention to the fullest.

With the stricter 1910s years passed, the formal silhouettes seen in the Duchess’s wardrobe are being phased out for more relaxed flapper style dresses and highly detailed accessories of the 1920s.

The years after WW1 saw more women reluctant to head away from work and a life they had grown accustom to calling out for a more versatile wardrobe. As hemlines lifted ever so gradually, this was a sign of women becoming more empowered with the sight of an ankle causing a frenzy.

These baggy flapper styles weren’t exactly the most flattering, 1920s style has to be one of the most stark in comparison to the years just before. Whilst the flapper dresses didn’t offer shape, nor suggest a pecking order between the classes, aristocracy decorated their outfits with strong lavish embellishments and rich colours to set themselves apart form the rest. Deep blues and greens were extremely popular and implied a wealthy background with these highly intricate designs and beading acting as a way to boost their social standing and gain a flurry of compliments at dinner parties.

Jewellery-wise, the style was slightly more delicate than previous years with many higher classes opting for simple beads to complement their outfits. However, it was the other types of accessories they would dote on. Long silk clothes still made the odd appearance, but it was the hats and headdresses that received the most attention. With the ability to travel becoming easier and the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922, the British aristocracy took great delight in experimenting with exotic headgear and foreign designs.

Fashion is not only constantly evolving but recycling too, and it may not be long until we can all sport the 1920s style with reports of a Downton fashion line set to hit stores later this year.

Sarah