The Downton Grand Finale, Costume Design, And Elegance Today

Lady Mary Crawley’s wardrobe is a testament to her emotional rebirth, most strikingly embodied in a daring tomato-red “revenge dress,” its Lalique-inspired design radiating confidence and defiance post-divorce. Later, her navy “Fall From Grace Frock Coat” paired with a Prince of Wales check skirt speaks to her complex inner world and enduring ties to the Downton estate, merging tradition with quiet rebellion. Lady Edith, ever the trailblazer, sheds her autumnal palette for the cutting-edge pulse of London fashion. Her wardrobe brims with daring silhouettes and dazzling diamonds, each piece a sparkling reflection of her newfound confidence and social ascent. Meanwhile, Lady Cora embraces an American-inspired elegance, her Vionnet-esque silhouettes adorned with subtler patterns and softer hues - cornflower blue and mauve - that signal her embracing of the shifting tides of the era.

Looking back at period fashions, they always seem so defined and obvious, yet when we think about fashions today, our immediate proximity to them is the exact thing that blurs them. It is much easier to define fashion's 'why' when looking back at decades past. But what history does tell us that we can put to use today, is that the form of elegance that flatters the figure with luxurious fabrics always transcends cultural shifts and dynamic moments in time. In fact 'elegance' as we come to know it, becomes the base case at every reset. 

It's why at Favourbrook, we always begin designing collections by underlining this idea of elegance. Sometimes we borrow from historic understandings of the word, while at others our garments suggest a more modern interpretation. Either way, our collections invariably celebrate the elegance of the past while embracing the bold spirit of the present.