I have a confession to make, an especially shocking confession given my involvement in the Entertainment Industry career-wise. Here goes... I barely watch any television. at all. Honestly, apart from (
once in a blue moon) switching CNN on in the background while perusing the internets and, of course, watching my beloved MadMen (but even that is via Netflix!) it is an increasingly rare thing to find me watching actual live TV. I'm not even sure why we have cable apart from the Brit needing his English "football". I suppose, it is the security of knowing it is there should I need it. For example, say I become obsessed with a new show accidentally? Which, funnily enough, is exactly what happened to me a week or two ago when I discovered the English series
Downton Abbey.
The series (created by Julian Fellowes...writer of Gosford Park, among other things) centers on a manor house called Downton Abbey and the trials and tribulations of it's inhabitants. Namely, the aristocratic Crawley family who owns it and their (dozen or so) servants. The show takes place in the early 1900s and, similarly to MadMen, historical events occasionally have an effect on the storyline - which is part of what drew me in from the first episode. I am lover of history and historical fiction. But wow... the costumes definitely did not hurt. They are, in a word, incredible...
The
millinery alone is worthy of its own post! I do love a good hat. I found myself literally gasping at the costumes in every other scene. They are pure Georgian perfection which only adds to the beautiful / tumultuous narrative unfolding in Season One.
It nearly killed me when I found there were only seven (hour long) episodes in the first season but they are shooting Season Two as we speak! Still, I'm bound to be
revisiting a few episodes down the line.
OK! I have to stop myself here because I don't want to spoil it for you but there are
so many costumes that I loved and couldn't find photos of! Again, all of Season One is on
Netflix and the new season starts this fall in the UK (on iTV, I think?) and PBS in the US but not until January (boo...)
photos via here & here.
