Downton Abbey Inspired Look

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If you aren't following me on social media, then you may not be aware of my obsession with Downton Abbey. From the lifestyle to the costumes to the mannerisms to even Mrs. Patmore's decadent dishes of food (assisted by Daisy, of course) - I am obsessed with it all. Naturally, I try to incorporate some of Downton into my everyday life (yes I have the Downton Abbey cookbook), including donning a Downton Abbey inspired look whenever I can.

Milly coat (old, similar here and here), New Look sweater (sold out, also love this one and this one), J Brand jeans, Stuart Weitzman boots (similar here and here), Clare V bag, Calvin Klein gloves, Camel beret

  I only began watching Downton Abbey earlier this year when I was bedridden for almost two weeks with a nasty flu. To pass the time, Tor suggested we finally start Downton Abbey (with my fellow former Miss USA Susie Castillo also urging for us to start), and thus we binged all six seasons in those two weeks. I have been obsessed ever since, including rewatching seasons 1-3 over and over again (I refuse to watch the season 3 Christmas special ever since the first time I saw it... true Downton Abbey viewers know why). If you follow me on Instagram and have seen my latest travel vlogs, you'll see it's pushed The White Queen and The Crown aside as my go-to tv show to watch on planes. What's funny is we already had some sort of connection to Downton Abbey before we began watching - my husband costarred with Allen Leech (Branson) in The Tudors, and in 2014 we met some of the cast in Monaco at an event at the palace (but we had never seen the show!). [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="14141,14153"] [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="14148,14144"] So what influenced my Downton Abbey inspired look? This look is inspired by one of Lady Edith Crawley's outfits in season 6. In the final season, Edith had some of my favorite costumes, especially when she was a #BossBabe running and editing the newspaper in London. For one look, she paired camel and blue together and it looked so beautiful. So I decided to pair my old blue Milly coat with the perfect camel beret and gloves while out and about in New York last week. Walking through the streets of New York, I felt like I was really walking the streets of London.
[gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="14152,14150"] [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="14142,14154"] [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="14147,14151"] There are so many reasons why I love Downton Abbey. While some of the quotes and storylines can be a bit cheesy or soap opera-y, it's still a beautifully done show. It really captures what life was like in the Edwardian and Georgian eras. The show also focuses a lot on how women in the UK began to really fight for their rights and hold positions in the workforce only previously held by men. Even Violet is shocked when Edith tells everyone she's volunteering on a nearby farm since she knows how to drive a tractor (pretty much unheard of for a woman to do back then). There's also the changing styles. Downton Abbey takes place over a course of about 13 years, and you clearly see how the fashions change and evolve for the women (including Sybil's "choice of frock" to be pants instead of a dress). With my Downton Abbey inspired look, I am evoking a modern way to dress like a lady.

"I'm a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose." - Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham

Alyssa Campanella of The A List blog in a Downton Abbey inspired look in New York

For those who love Downton Abbey as much as I do, there is a Downton Abbey exhibition happening in New York City that opens tomorrow! They will have a good amount of costumes on display! I am booking tickets for our next New York trip in January! If you go before then, please show me all your pictures!

 

Photos by Carter Fish.

If you aren’t following me on social media, then you may not be aware of my obsession with Downton Abbey. From the lifestyle to the costumes to the mannerisms to even Mrs. Patmore’s decadent dishes of food (assisted by Daisy, of course) – I am obsessed with it all. Naturally, I try to incorporate some of Downton into my everyday life (yes I have the Downton Abbey cookbook), including donning a Downton Abbey inspired look whenever I can.

Milly coat (old, similar here and here), New Look sweater (sold out, also love this one and this one), J Brand jeans, Stuart Weitzman boots (similar here and here), Clare V bag, Calvin Klein gloves, Camel beret

 

I only began watching Downton Abbey earlier this year when I was bedridden for almost two weeks with a nasty flu. To pass the time, Tor suggested we finally start Downton Abbey (with my fellow former Miss USA Susie Castillo also urging for us to start), and thus we binged all six seasons in those two weeks. I have been obsessed ever since, including rewatching seasons 1-3 over and over again (I refuse to watch the season 3 Christmas special ever since the first time I saw it… true Downton Abbey viewers know why). If you follow me on Instagram and have seen my latest travel vlogs, you’ll see it’s pushed The White Queen and The Crown aside as my go-to tv show to watch on planes. What’s funny is we already had some sort of connection to Downton Abbey before we began watching – my husband costarred with Allen Leech (Branson) in The Tudors, and in 2014 we met some of the cast in Monaco at an event at the palace (but we had never seen the show!).

So what influenced my Downton Abbey inspired look? This look is inspired by one of Lady Edith Crawley’s outfits in season 6. In the final season, Edith had some of my favorite costumes, especially when she was a #BossBabe running and editing the newspaper in London. For one look, she paired camel and blue together and it looked so beautiful. So I decided to pair my old blue Milly coat with the perfect camel beret and gloves while out and about in New York last week. Walking through the streets of New York, I felt like I was really walking the streets of London.

There are so many reasons why I love Downton Abbey. While some of the quotes and storylines can be a bit cheesy or soap opera-y, it’s still a beautifully done show. It really captures what life was like in the Edwardian and Georgian eras. The show also focuses a lot on how women in the UK began to really fight for their rights and hold positions in the workforce only previously held by men. Even Violet is shocked when Edith tells everyone she’s volunteering on a nearby farm since she knows how to drive a tractor (pretty much unheard of for a woman to do back then). There’s also the changing styles. Downton Abbey takes place over a course of about 13 years, and you clearly see how the fashions change and evolve for the women (including Sybil’s “choice of frock” to be pants instead of a dress). With my Downton Abbey inspired look, I am evoking a modern way to dress like a lady.

“I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.” – Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham

Alyssa Campanella of The A List blog in a Downton Abbey inspired look in New York

For those who love Downton Abbey as much as I do, there is a Downton Abbey exhibition happening in New York City that opens tomorrow! They will have a good amount of costumes on display! I am booking tickets for our next New York trip in January! If you go before then, please show me all your pictures!

 

Photos by Carter Fish.

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Comments

  1. Cyndi

    This is both stunning and brilliant! I began watching Downton in Season 2, and I have to admit that I went into a deep depression over the episode-that-shall-not-ever-be-named! This show captured my heart from the music, the story arcs, and of course the costumes. You have managed to modernize Edith’s look, so it keeps it’s retro look yet can easily be worn now. Love it!

    • The A List

      Aww thank you so much Cyndi! And ugh, I know all about that depression. Episode 1 of season 4 is literally the most depressing episode (right behind Season 3, Episode 5 when you-know-who dies in childbirth).

  2. Marine

    I started watching Downton Abbey this year because you said you were obsessed with it, turns out now I am too !! It became one of my favorite show (with The Crown) and I particularly love the evolution of the ladies style. This look definitely rings Downton bells, plus I smile seeing your photos since I was in front of the MET just 2 months ago !

    • The A List

      Yay!!! I love that someone else is new to the show and as obsessed as I am!

  3. Erika K

    “A modern way to dress like a lady” love that! I think you evoke that on the blog in general, not just this post 🙂

    • The A List

      Aww thank you, Erika! That means a lot 🙂

  4. Bailey Holloman

    I love Downton. I just started the White Queen today. After I finished the White Princess if you haven’t seen it you should watch it. It’s awesome they only made one season it left me wanting more just like Downton Abbey I hope they make it into a film. Also personal question between your travels and writing when do you find time to exercise?

    • The A List

      I’ve seen The White Princess. Looking back, I didn’t like it. I’ve only seen it once and that’s enough. I prefer The White Queen. Maybe I am just bitter that none of TWQ’s cast returned for Princess. But TWQ I can watch over and over again. TWP not so much.

      And I am really bad about exercising… I haven’t done it in a while. I really need to!

  5. Madeline

    I love all those shows! Have you watched the White Princess which follows on from the White Queen? It’s really good!! I love Poldark too. Love your looks xxx

    • The A List

      I’ve seen The White Princess but didn’t like it as much. It filled a void, but I definitely prefer The White Queen and the cast in TWQ.

  6. Bailey Holloman

    Also it is my opinion that while I love Downton I think Lady Mary should’ve ended up with Branson.All of the signs were there and Henry should’ve ended up with the school teacher who’s name I cannot remember. And out of all the weddings I was most excited about Carson and Mrs. Hughes’ wedding! That was my favorite thing during the whole series.

    • The A List

      Oh my gosh I was totally rooting for Branson and Mary!!!!! I felt her relationship with Henry was rushed whereas Branson and Mary seemed to have a connection that grew over the years. But I think for the show it might have been weird for Mary to end up with her deceased sister’s widower. But at the end, they were setting up Branson with Edith’s editor that also felt a bit forced and rushed.

  7. Francesca

    I absolutely love this look and the fact that it is inspired by Downtown Abbey! I have never seen this show but this post and your words have made me want to watch it! My favourite historical tv shows are Reign, The Crown and Victoria and I’ve always wanted to find a look somehow inspired by The Crown and Victoria because I’d love to find, like you said, a modern way to dress like a lady 😍
    (P.S. It has nothing to do with it but I wanted to ask you if you will ever do a weekly reading list)