Gentle Readers: Amanda Millay on New Noblewoman has found modern fashions inspired by Downton Abbey. She has graciously allowed me to reproduce her article for this blog. It will lead you to her blog, The New Noblewoman, which features all things fashion.
Downton Abbey is not just successful as good entertainment. Women everywhere are clamoring for clothing inspired by the show, and finding that modern-day retail wear is not even as pretty as the show’s most simple dresses.
The longing for Downton Abbey-inspired fashions, and the very few options available at the retail level, indicate that a change is needed in women’s fashion. Most women can’t afford a $1,000 dress, and designers and manufacturers will continue to make cheap, ugly, throwaway clothing until people stop buying it. But there is one option remaining for turning the fashion tide: Making or buying only top-quality, beautiful clothes, and making do with a limited wardrobe . . . like most people did for centuries. We should bring the emphasis in fashion back to having a few quality items, rather than amassing a huge quantity of synthetic items that we grow weary of or that go out of style after a few months. Women are already realizing this, and have started searching out homemade clothing (and making their own) in the quest to bring some true style back into fashion.
So can women today find anything that’s comparable to Downton Abbey fashion (without making it, or wearing an evening gown during the day)? I’ve scoured online women’s boutiques and department stores, and after looking through thousands of dresses, here are the best options I’ve found for Downton Abbey-inspired style. There are some great dresses at exorbitant prices, but in this list, everything is less than $200.
(If you’re looking for authentic vintage style, check out the Ladies Emporium,Recollections, Etsy, or this list of retailers from Sense & Sensibility Patterns.)
Long Dresses for a Look That’s Casual or Elegant
The ladies of Downton Abbey are usually dressed to impress. But it’s possible to find empire-waist dresses and long dresses in a variety of styles that have a bit of pre-World War I British flair. Click here for the rest of the article on New Noblewoman.
Other links:
- Downton Abbey: Teagowns and Relaxation
- Valentino 2012 spring gowns inspired by Edwardian fashion: Scroll down
- Downton Abbey Inspired Fashion and Style for Every Day
- Downton Abbey Clothes: The English Period Drama Starts a Hot New Fashion Trend
- Jewelista: The Rise of Downton Abbey, Why the Period Piece is Attracting a Loyal Following
- Downton on the High Street: How Lord Grantham’s girls have brought Edwardian elegance back to the shops
Jane Austen's World 
Anything from Downton Abbey is better than the Oscar gowns.
Thank you for this article on Downton Abbey fashion. I’ve felt this way for years and thought I was the only one. I’d rather own one lovely Scottish cashmere sweater and wear it every day rather than fifty inexpensive sweaters. I love the older styles as well. J. Peterman has wonderful vintage styled fashion with great details. It’s a must for anyone like me
Vic, if you ever come up with a source for knitting patterns for the sweaters, I’d love it!
This is a vintage sweater patterns. It looks to be later than the early Edwardian era, but it is a sweater with a vintage look: http://www.amazon.com/SWEATER-VINTAGE-KNITTING-PATTERN-ebook/dp/B006F2IDTW
Here’s an Edwardian knitting pattern book on Etsy! http://www.etsy.com/listing/87244576/vintage-edwardian-paton-universal
There is also this stunning Edwardian lace wrap: http://www.heirloom-knitting.co.uk/simply_stunning8.html
These are Edwardian crochet patterns: http://www.atomicmall.com/view.php?id=28046&mba=0
This site offers definitions of vintage knitting terminology: http://www.knitting-and.com/homework/
Have you been to the knitting website Ravelry? Go to http://www.ravelry.com, join (it is free and private – they don’t use or sell your email in any way) and do a search for “vintage”. There are groups on Rav who are devoted to knitting authentic vintage patterns of many periods. I personally love the ’40s looks.
I love the old styles… even the suites for gentlemen are so much more fitting than those are of today. I have seen however, vests returning and would love to see the four button suite coat return as well.
The sweaters are easy–if you knit! I collect and use vintage patterns from the Titanic era through the early 1960s, and though I own many original patterns, I recommend you seek out ivarose.com
She has a tremendous selection of scanned pattern booklets from mid 19th century onward, and all are bound in spiral; very easy to use. She’s fast in shipping, and very professional. NAYY.
So far as clothing goes, I’m in the habit of wearing lots of vintage or vintage-style items. I’m afraid, however, that it’s increased the size of my wardrobe, as I wear 20s through 60s garments as well as some modern clothing. And now, thanks to Downton, I just bought my first gown to modify to ca. 1918. It’s a slippery slope.
I just love the clothing – the fabrics, the styles, the colors. Just gorgeous. Thanks so much for this info. I’m sure there are lots of people who are interested in where to find similar clothing styles for today.
Thank you, Sophy, Eileen and Vic for the suggestions. I have several old pattern books, but… *grin* was hoping to find someone who’d done up the sweaters in today’s language and yarns. Yes, I love to knit, but I’m lazy (and backward!) when it comes to the math of patterns.
I love the pre-WWI/ Titanic-era styles. I have Sense & Sensibility’s 1910s Tea Gown in Robin’s egg blue chiffon and satin (polyester) which I wore as a bridesmaid dress. It’s very pretty but as it didn’t come with a lady’s maid – not very practical! I want Lady Sybil’s harem trousers outfit. I’ve seen cloche hats at JC Penney and other stores. They’re in style now.
Thanks for the link Vic!
~Lauren
So nice to see others feel as I do – today’s fashions are so ugly – and why do we wear them? How did we go from dresses like on Downton, to the horrific sweats/jeans/t-shirts today? Very sad. I am tempted to get rid of all my jeans.
There is an online company called Nataya that draws its inspiration from the Edwardian dress…and Victorian Trading company also has a few dresses that are influenced by that period.