tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post4184003526613191496..comments2023-10-20T11:17:47.246-04:00Comments on Two Nerdy History Girls: "Costumes of Downton Abbey" at Winterthur MuseumUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-37450871844526990142014-06-03T08:36:16.800-04:002014-06-03T08:36:16.800-04:00I've posted more costumes from the exhibition ...I've posted more costumes from the exhibition on our twitter feed: @2nerdyhistgirls. If you're not a Tweeter, here are the direct links to the images:<br /><br />pic.twitter.com/EXAr3Sz9YZ<br />pic.twitter.com/3ajQAzB4T6<br />pic.twitter.com/o25Wr0y9Dt<br />pic.twitter.com/rRYHlZHiYy<br />pic.twitter.com/Q7RaDO50nX<br />pic.twitter.com/RZTrNPdhtd<br />pic.twitter.com/1YXhCnUGGwIsabella Bradford/Susan Holloway Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997375216314200469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-91711391917258247822014-06-03T08:32:08.750-04:002014-06-03T08:32:08.750-04:00Dixie Quilter -
Glad you enjoyed your visit to Wi...Dixie Quilter -<br /><br />Glad you enjoyed your visit to Winterthur! It's an amazing place - you should come back in warmer weather so you can experience the gardens as well. Totally agree with your comments about the exhibition. Even though I'm not a fan, I still enjoyed the costumes very much. <br /><br />Were you in the area for the CCHS conference? If so, I was there, too. :)Isabella Bradford/Susan Holloway Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997375216314200469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-67065285408127613352014-06-03T08:29:30.496-04:002014-06-03T08:29:30.496-04:00Duchess-
The answer to your question about authent...Duchess-<br />The answer to your question about authenticity is...yes and no. Not all of the costumes used on the show and featured in the exhibition were made for the series. Some are actually original early 20th c pieces, like this beaded rose-colored dress: <br /><br />pic.twitter.com/EXAr3Sz9YZ<br /><br />So that one would definitely pass muster at a 1920s party!<br /><br />Some of the others, however, seemed to me to be very much "costumes" that show very well on TV, but close up reveal modern beads, sewing techniques, and fabrics. <br /><br />Perhaps the most glaring thing that I noticed is how the costumes were made to accomodate both modern actresses & modern expectations of the viewers. The actresses are clearly all teeny-tiny, and while they might not have "needed" corsets, they clearly weren't wearing the early 20th c underpinnings. The silhouettes weren't "right" at all - but except for us Nerdy History folk, I doubt many viewers cared at all. :)<br />Isabella Bradford/Susan Holloway Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997375216314200469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-41850752577539759602014-06-02T10:57:06.005-04:002014-06-02T10:57:06.005-04:00While we were at a conference in Pennsylvania in M...While we were at a conference in Pennsylvania in March, my friends and I took a trip to Winterthur. We had never been there before and thoroughly enjoyed our day there. None of us had ever watched Downton Abbey and only went to the exhibit so we could brag to all our friends who are fans of the show. But being very interested in history and clothing, we couldn't help but love it. Dixie Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04236199205728241049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-34802065027634001322014-06-02T01:20:00.182-04:002014-06-02T01:20:00.182-04:00Exquisite post.
Question: based on your knowle...Exquisite post. <br /><br />Question: based on your knowledge of period clothing, were the costumes "authentic" i.e. were their design elements correct for the period?<br /><br />As a classic movie fan, one of the things that drives me NUTS (and it's not a long drive, mind you) are films made in the 1940s & 50s which are set in the 1910s & 20s ...<br /><br />The costuming, hairdressing and makeup are invariably WRONG since heaven forbid stars back then should ever appear "old-fashioned."<br /><br />(In fact, as late as "Bonnie & Clyde" in '67, Faye Dunaway's wardrobe was FAR more Carnaby Street than Tobacco Road.)<br /><br />So ... did I have a question? ... oh, yes:<br /><br />In your opinion, if one were to, say, snatch a Downtown tea dress off its mannequin and slip it effortlessly onto one's sylph-like frame while stepping through one's Magic Time Portal with the dial set to: "1915 -- Tea Time -- London Ritz" ...?<br /><br />As one hobbled gracefully to one's table, would one's fellow clientele see a duchess, a demimonde or a disaster? <br /><br />Would one's raiment be regarded as chic, bleak or (sniff) "unique"?<br /><br />One hopes you'll share your views on this as they'll undoubtedly be thoughtful, informative and insightful. (One never finds anything less on this perfectly marvelous blog.)<br /><br />Thanx again for the lovely post.The Duchess of Diaphragmnoreply@blogger.com