Temperley Does Downton

If you're already suffering from Downton Abbey withdrawal symptoms, don't despair! Temperley have enough drop-waisted dresses to rival Lady Mary's wardrobe, so at least we can pretend to be lady of the manor for a while.

Apparently the 'Downton effect' is making us all want to smarten-up our act and dress befitting the occasion - so it's out with the denim and in with intricately embellished dresses. If you ask me the Alice by Temperley Erte Dress is the perfect homage to ladylike '20s styling. Available in sultry red and black as well as debutante's white - that's pretty much all bases covered. What's more, the Erte is now in the sale, reduced from £495 - £250. That'll keep Lord Grantham happy!

Downton's Back & It's Edith's Time to Shine

Downton Abbey is back on our screens and it's time to swoon at all those 1920s dresses. With Lady Mary resolved to stick with her black widow's weeds it was down to Edith to show off some of the sparkle that the Jazz Age is renowned for on Sunday night - and she didn't disappoint!

Bare shoulders on display - now what would Granny Grantham have to say about that?! But with her newspaper editor beau on her arm and a wardrobe full of drop-waisted dresses it looks like it's finally Edith's time to shine.

Double Take at Downton

The big news this week... eagle-eyed viewers spot hand-me-down costumes on Downton Abbey.

Everyone seems shocked to hear that a number of Downton Abbey's award winning costumes are in fact second hand, having previously made appearances on the big screen.

Lady Mary's red beaded dress has graced Hollywood royalty, having been worn by Catherine Zeta Jones in the film Death Defying Acts, whilst a sheer green gown first appeared in J.M. Barrie biopic Finding Neverland. It's not just Lady Mary's wardrobe where you'll find these short cuts, the tabloids are reporting many more examples.

It's not just Lady Mary's much admired wardrobe where you'll find such short cuts, the tabloids are reporting many more examples.

The truth is the cost of making all the costumes from scratch would have pushed the popular period drama well over budget, a fact reiterated by Downton costume designer Susannah Box, who said:

"We couldn't have done all of them - it would have cost a fortune."

Instead, only around 1/3 are new, with the remainder reused either as they are or with considerable alterations - a common practice in the film, television and theatre industries. I remember an actor friend of mine getting very excited when he found out his suit had been worn by one of his idols - even if it was a little short on the sleeves!

However many times the costumes have been seen, surely what matters is that the clothes are a suitable fit for the character and era. In a time of recession, maybe this could encourage us all to share and share alike, by trying out swishing events, or designer dress hire websites.

The Downton Effect

Like all good things, the latest series of Downton Abbey must come to an end tonight - but fans can rest assured that the period drama will return for a third series.

For me, one of the main attractions of Downton has to be the costume design. The fashions not only reflect the characters themselves, but reveal a great deal about society at the time. I relish the parade of lace, brocade, chiffon and jet beads as the ladies of the house sit down to dinner.















Dressing with such rigid formality, attention to detail and above all, class distinction may be something which was lost in the post war years, but the ladylike silhouettes seen in Downton have not entirely disappeared. The latest collection by Rodarte could very easily have been taken from Lady Mary's wardrobe.





















With the first world war over, we can look forward to the next series set in a whole new decade - the roaring 20s. The Jazz Age, encompassed by the exotic decadence of Art Deco, boyish haircuts, dropped waists and raised hemlines is one exciting era!