Downton Abbey Costume Recap: Season 6, Episode 3

We here at Frock Flicks (okay, Kendra and Trystan) are so excited for the final season of Downton Abbey that we’re doing weekly costume recaps AND podcasts! Tune in each week for an episode-by-episode recap of our thoughts on both the plot and (especially) the costumes (designed by Anna Robbins) — because really, while we all are invested in the lives of the fictional Crawley family, don’t we actually keep coming back to see what they’re wearing? You can find the podcast at the bottom of this post, or on iTunes!

Weddings! Fashion magazines! New love interests! Returning characters! Let’s do this:

Upstairs, the Dowager Countess is sparkly, Edith is getting shit done on her magazine, and Mary is being Mary.

Lovely mauve satin on the dowager countess. We approve of her sparkly hat trim and sleeve cuff buttons!

Edith has to go back to London (oh noes!) to deal with The Magazine!

She’s dressed in that perfect 1920s mix of feminine with tailored accents. The blouse looks like it has drawn thread-work, possibly, or some kind of woven design.

Overall, the ensemble is all about ivory and dark blue.

Mary is shockingly un-frumpy in a wine and cream ensemble. SO much that’s good about this outfit:

It’s hard to see clearly, but the edges of the jacket and them of the skirt are trimmed with a sheerer, slightly lighter colored panel.

LOVE the hip placement of the belt, which is SO 1920s and suits Mary perfectly.

Cora discusses menus with Mrs. Patmore:

Cora’s in a beige-y/cream dress or blouse/skirt combo.

She’s the epitome of subtle taste with that delicate embroidery along the neckline and inset.

Meanwhile, downstairs, poor Mrs. Hughes is regretting her decision not to buy a new wedding dress:

She’s hoping Baxter can zhuzh up this sad brown dress, but this isn’t Project Runway and I don’t think it’s happening. Mrs. Patmore is depressed.

We HATE Denker with the fire of many suns, but we appreciate the drawn-threadwork lace on the neckline of her blouse/dress inset:

It gives us something to look at while hoping she gets run over by something large and pointy.

That evening, there’s your standard family dinner, so of course we need to get dressed up to THERE! Mary knocks it out of the park, AGAIN, in this amazing black and gold beaded number. Wowza!

Color blocking!

Coordinating bandeau with Greek key beading design!

The geometric layout of the beading patterns is SO deco and just divine. We think it’s inspired that they didn’t do black beads on the gold portion, but stuck with gold beads all over — more tasteful.

Not skimping — the back is just as fabulous!

Nobody else is skimping either:

Cora is in a pale gold embroidered dress with touches of cranberry, seriously her best color palate.

Perfectly accessorized with the long beaded necklace, beaded earrings, and gold gloves.

Unusually, Isobel is in something that made us sit up and say “oooh”! That subtle rose pattern in the velvet dress is gorgeous. Also, note how the sheer underblouse makes the gown age-appropriate.

Looks like there’s more roses along the edge of the skirt split.

Poor Mrs. Hughes gets called on the carpet about the wedding reception in front of everyone:

Yes, it’s good that we’re all on the same page, but talk about being put on the spot! Notice how the black portion of Mary’s dress has a gold under-layer.

The next day, a MAN talks to Edith! QUICK EDITH! LOCK HIM DOWN! Oh, and Edith fires her horrible editor and gets shit done herself, feminist-style.

Dressed for taking-of-business: cream blouse with nice tie, blue cross-over dress with matching hat AND gloves, and warm light brown coat. REELING IN THE GUYS RIGHT AND LEFT, our Edith!

Lovely necktie, gorgeous hair.

We both said “ooo” when we saw the secretary’s red satin dress, although looking looking closer, that lace at the neckline looks suspiciously like a doily. Oh well, still pretty!

There are lots of great shots of Edith’s magazine as it’s being laid out:

Cover designs.

Photos from a fancy dress (i.e., costume) party. We both thought the top left image looked awfully Hollywood, but the other three are fancy dress party costume shots to a T!

Looks just like Vogue or Ladies Home Journal!

Back at the ~~ranch~~ abbey, Mrs. Patmore attempts to save the wedding-dress-day, unsuccessfully, with a last minute catalog order.

Nope.

Mary looks stunning for breakfast in bed:

Where do we sign up for this service?

And Cora’s off to fight with Granny:

Great asymmetrical hat swoop.

In her version of taking-care-of-business.

At yet another hospital meeting/fight:

The dowager countess has some nice beading on her essentially Edwardian ensemble. We see where they’re going with her hats — small brims to make them more up-to-date, but higher crowns because she’s old school — still, they’re kind of ugly.

Isobel is back to neutral greys, Cora’s in cream.

Edith’s back from London with the finished magazine, bringing some career-girl action:

We don’t love this shades-of-blue outfit as much as her others. We think it’s the cardigan, which to us 2010s types reads “old man.”

It doesn’t get better from the back, historically accurate or not.

Mary’s also in blue, but much darker and more conservative.

Mary’s a fan of these asymmetrical necklines lately. Between the navy blue and the pearls, she is SO ready to be someone’s grandmother c. 1950.

A nice shot of the finished magazine. We’d subscribe.

Upstairs, Mrs. Hughes is trying on Cora’s coats per Mary’s instructions, but Cora isn’t forewarned and is PISSED.

WAAAAAY too much look for Mrs. Hughes with all the fur.

She looks like she’s ready to go on an Arctic expedition.

Luckily Mary gives her mother what-for, and that evening Cora comes downstairs to A) apologize and B) give Mrs. Hughes a present of a coat for the wedding.

Cora’s rocking a silver patterned dress with green velvet over-drapes.

Lovely!

Which Baxter hems so it’s ready for the wedding tomorrow:

It’s Hughes-Carson merger day! Here’s a full shot of the catalog dress:

Yep, it’s pretty ho-hum.

Luckily, with the addition of Cora’s coat and a nice hat, Mrs. Hughes looks very nice:

The sheer woven trim around the edge of the hat is great.

And the bow is nice too!

Lovely shades of mauve, and a nice belt buckle.

Everyone’s in attendance:

The upstairs crew. Mary wins the coat competition, and Cora wins the hat.

Downstairs.

The trim layout on the dowager countess’s coat lapel is vaguely deco! Go Granny! Still don’t love the hat shape, although it makes perfect sense for her character.

At the reception, we get some clearer shots of Mrs. Hughes’s coat.

That silver embroidery makes all the difference. Thanks for de-bitching, Cora!

Underneath all those coats, here’s what we’re wearing:

Mary in wine-colored silk charmeuse, such a great color on her. Here’s another of those asymmetrical necklines.

We HATED this hat on Anna. She looks like a turtle.

Daisy wins best-dressed for the color and cut of her pale orange dress. SUCH a great color her! Classic 1920s style with the hip gathers and the lace collar.