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!
It’s a few weeks later, and Robert isn’t feeling great, but he’s not dead, whew. Mary and Cora come to visit him:
Lounging in his dressing gown.
Mary looks sharp in a white blouse that’s relieved by all the pintucks and neck tie (see, we’re not against white blouses on Mary, they just have to be age-appropriate). And that sweater is great — black is her color, but the small colored dots are very Deco.
Cora looks nice enough in a tobacco-colored blouse.
Over at the dowager’s house…
We’re pretty sure we’ve seen this outfit on Granny before, but we’re admiring those embroidered bands nonetheless.
Isobel’s looking brighter than usual in all that cranberry, and a touch of lip color!
Back at the Abbey, it’s time for tea!
Mary’s wearing a black skirt, with Cora in a brown one.
Edith looking fab in her Middle Eastern-inspired embroidered day ensemble. Somebody in Wardrobe really got the memo about ‘orientalist’ influences in 1920s fashion this season.
Over at Mr. Mason’s farm…
Daisy looks great in a different plaid dress — love the buttoned tabs and pleats on the hips — in the warm peachy color she’s been rocking all season.
Carson is an ass about Mrs. Hughes’s housekeeping, but at least she has a nice hat she can beat him with.
Time to change clothes!
Lovely embroidery on Mary’s Chinoiserie robe.
Cora heads over to Isobel’s, where she’s pressed into taking the job of president of the hospital.
Cora: FABULOUS embroidery. FABULOUS hat.
Cora: embroidery also on the cuffs. Isobel is rewearing a dress that Trystan likes and Kendra thinks feels is very Ross Dress for Less.
FABULOUS bow on Cora’s hat … and note the back of the neck buttons on her blouse!
Back at the Abbey, it’s time for a little Mary vs. Edith sparring:
Kendra thinks Mary looks chic in her short-sleeved white blouse, navy skirt, and bone heels.
But Trystan dislikes the shirt’s boxy fit.
Edith’s rewearing this printed ensemble. These are great colors on her.
Mary visits Dad before heading off to London with Anna:
We like that the blouse has a slight woven pattern to it, and that it’s not buttoned all the way up to the neck. But it’s still a tad prissy.
Mary’s ensemble looks just-fine from the back…
But from the front! LOVE the patterned velvet asymmetrical collar and cuffs! LOVE the zig zag/straight hat trim!
Close-up on that hat trim. Note the coat buttons too!
Robert invites Granny to visit, but nobody tells her about the whole ousting-you-as-president thing.
Fine. Yawn. Whatever.
Cora’s worn this evening gown before, but we like the color and beading pattern — and the back cut-out.
In London…
Anna helps Mary, wearing her smashing white dressing gown, choose her outfit.
Mary heads to dinner at the Ritz with Tom Branson, Henry Talbot, and some other peeps:
Check out that brown and black velvet (?) dress on the extra on the right!
Mary knocks it out of the park in a seafoam and gold lace dress that is weirdly in Edith’s colors, but still looks fabulous on Mary. Bitch. LOVE the back drape of the skirt.
Mary is very “This old thing?”
The other ladies are thinking, “Bitch.” Nice Marcel waves.
“Oh my GOD. Who invited HER?”
Henry. Black tie. Rowr.
Lace! Earrings!
After dinner, Mary puts on an amazing black velvet evening coat with green bird embroidery.
The coat has a great fringed hemline.
More coat!
Henry looks kind of dorky in this hat. I think the brim is too wide for his face?
SUGAR IS GIVEN.
Unfortunately, while Mary’s gold bandeau looks great out of focus, close-up it looks like a cheap-o wired Christmas ribbon.
Later, Tom tries to prod Mary into considering Henry as a viable option.
Tom looks SHARP in his tux.
Meanwhile, Carson is headed for a beating as he continues to insult Mrs. Hughes’s cooking and housekeeping.
This is the same blouse she’s been wearing for all her off-duty scenes, but here we can see that not only is there embroidery on the collar, but also pintucks on the shoulders.
The next day, Edith’s beau Bertie comes to visit!
MORE SUGAR IS GIVEN.
We LOVED Edith’s blue sweater with lavender collar and belt.
Over at Isobel’s, Lord Merton has turned up with his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, who’s all nicey nicey to Isobel.
She’s in a lovely brown crepe number with embroidered sections and coordinated hat.
That evening, it’s time for dinner with Bertie and the fam.
Edith is in a long, more 1910s- or 1930s-length evening gown. There’s two layers, with beading on the over-tunic.
More beading!
We check in on Marigold:
A little gin in the bottle perhaps?
At dinner…
Mary’s low-backed dress is beautifully accented by that low-hanging necklace.
Is her dress black or very dark green, with gold embroidery?
Cora’s in a natural-colored embroidered number.
Mary’s dress has a nice handkerchief hem that swishes when she walks.
At bedtime…
Cora always has great dressing gowns…
…and lovely nighties. We hope Robert appreciates what he’s got!
The next day, it’s Open House time! Here come the unwashed masses!
Look at all the plebs! Love the warm brown coat and green cloche on the center right.
The Abbey looks beautiful. Too bad none of the family know anything about it!
Cora’s in a beige embroidered top and dark skirt.
This extra is unimpressed. Looks like Cora’s top is separate layers, with the embroidered bit as a sheer cardigan-ish thing.
They’re REALLY unimpressed. Love the blouse on the left, and the dress on the right.
Edith looks frumpy in a blue crepe top and satin tiered skirt. “They were very … of their time!”
Mary is bringing the frump with her favorite librarian blouse and pinky beige skirt/cardigan. “What else did the 4th Earl collect, Granny?”
“Horses and women.” The dowager is here to throw down with Cora about being dethroned as president of the hospital. She’s got nice embroidery on her lapels, and a surprisingly fab hat with GREAT feathers.
Outside…
Lord Merton has brought his daughter-in-law. She’s in a nice printed dress with a pale green coat. He’s been rocking this windowpane suit a lot.
That evening, the family gathers (with Bertie) in Robert’s room to hash out the day.
Cora is ho-hum in this steel blue embroidered number.
Is that Cora’s dress on Edith? Or do they have matching mother-daughter mauve evening gowns? (Pretty sure this is a re-wear.)
Bertie looks sharp in his tux. Mary isn’t trying very hard in her beige number.
Confab with us on the podcast about more shagging on the show and touring the ‘great houses’ of Britain!
Downton Abbey Season Six, Episode Six, Podcast Recap
Listen to our podcast recap of the episode here or on iTunes!
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What I loved in this episode dress wise is Mary’s green gown in the dinner/shagging scenes. It’s a perfect colour for her and one colour if which I wish she wear more. Tom and Henry look shaggable, but I like the fact that Bertie Pelham is the only one who knows how to deal with a house tour. Low Battery more later.
With the possible exception of a few of her signature wine-colored outfits, this might be Mary’s greatest posh frock. (Although it looked more jade than sea-foam to me.)
#ShutUpDaisy is my new Downton theme. But #ThomasNeedsAHug is coming in close behind. And I demand hats happen again. Hats need to be a thing now.
#ShutUpDaisy is my new theme too! I never liked the character, but she’s reached even new levels of insufferable this season.
Hats, aww yissss!!! And totally #ThomasNeedsAHug :-)
I’m Team Bertie also — love a man with a plan!
It was a fashion filled episode. …I love your reviews and snark!!!
Yay!!
And Daisy is a trainwreak….shut up Girl!!
Bertie is full of surprises. Remember last week, he told Edith about his cousin? It was an oblique way to say the Marquess was gay. ‘He likes to paint beautiful ..boys’. Do you know what happens to him? I don’t want to reveal spoilers. Just say his societal position may be raised….
My lips are sealed!
Love Mary’s gown but think the green of the earrings and bag are all wrong for the delicate seafoam. The coat is fabulous! I did like the browband until you correctly pointed out it’s tacky up close. But shagging? Good Heavens, NO! Snogging, yes.
Stunning stunning costumes and pretty much period correct and this series is a massive hit. The costume designer of War and Peace please take note.