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The Costumes of Downton Abbey
An Official Companion to the Downton Abbey Films and TV Series : An exclusive inside look at the intricate and glamorous costuming of the popular PBS series, with complete historical detail and beautiful imagery.
An inside look at the intricate costuming of the popular PBS series, including character costume choices and the historic fashion trends characteristic of the aristocracy during the Edwardian era.
Appealing to Anglophiles, costume and sewing aficionados, and fans of the hit series, The Costumes of Downton Abbey presents—with comprehensive historical detail and beautiful imagery—the design decisions and wardrobe intricacies that shaped the glamour and elegance of the characters of Downton Abbey .
Featuring the fashion of both upstairs and downstairs cast members, this title explores the unique daytime, evening, special occasion, and wedding wardrobes that led to a 2011 Emmy and several Emmy nominations for Outstanding Costumes for a Series. Detailed photographs, fan-favorite stills from the television series, and designer notes and insights make this a delightful and informative guide to the role costumes played in the character portrayal, story development, and art direction of the series.
An inside look at the intricate costuming of the popular PBS series, including character costume choices and the historic fashion trends characteristic of the aristocracy during the Edwardian era.
Appealing to Anglophiles, costume and sewing aficionados, and fans of the hit series, The Costumes of Downton Abbey presents—with comprehensive historical detail and beautiful imagery—the design decisions and wardrobe intricacies that shaped the glamour and elegance of the characters of Downton Abbey .
Featuring the fashion of both upstairs and downstairs cast members, this title explores the unique daytime, evening, special occasion, and wedding wardrobes that led to a 2011 Emmy and several Emmy nominations for Outstanding Costumes for a Series. Detailed photographs, fan-favorite stills from the television series, and designer notes and insights make this a delightful and informative guide to the role costumes played in the character portrayal, story development, and art direction of the series.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2023
3 people are currently reading
2558 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 20, 2025
A clean 5 out of 5 star book. This one of the best books about a TV-series I ever picked. It was well put together and captivating. Full of information and gorgeous picture from the Downton Abbey series...What's not to love about that?
Eventhough I enjoyed reading about both upstairs and downstairs characters clothes...of course the upstairs takes the prize and I have to put more focus on them. So now, my top 5 favorite fashion styles and sections in this book are (not based on who is my favorite character, but rather their clothing styles).
1) Edith, the colors and general style she picks is both cute and elegant throughout the show. Of all the characters I feel closest in fashion it was Edith. I mean honestly, about 85% of her clothes she is wearing I could considering putting on myself. Edith wears a lot of yellow from time to time which is my favorite color when it comes to clothing. Even her 2nd wedding dress when she is marrying Bertie Pelham is right up my style!
2) Mary has to be strong second for me because of the colors she chooses. Red and navy blue are some of my favorite colors for clothing. I love the colors and silhouette of her clothing. In my opinion, Mary's fashion s bold but elegant and classy at the same. The dress she was wearing when Matthew proposed is my favorite dress from the entire series.
3) Sybil and her style and some of the clothes she is wearing are a bit to bohemian for my liking. However, everything she wears look amazing on her. Especially the harem trousers she wears in the first season is one of my favorites. The color, the bold statement of her choice and overall accessories makes it great.
4) Rose, cute and wild. That's what I get. Like Edith, I really could consider wearing some of her outfits.
5) Violet, I love long dresses and the Edwardian styles in general. So to at Violet's dresses was a real treat for me. I'm happy to see Violet keeping it throughout the series with minor changes. The colors and how they changed to softer ones when the series progressed are some of my favorites parts of the fashion choices they madem
And as an honorable mention has to go to Cora, because I mainly like her style in the Edwardian style. The Edwardian fashion, especially the hairstyle suited her better. The 20s dresses looked great on her still. But it wasn't as great as many other characters in my opinion. Her coats are the most pretty things. Especially the one she gives to Mrs. Hughes when she married Carson is stunning.
Another honorable mention has to go to Daisy. Her pink kitchen maid dress she wears in the first seasons are so cute. And in the later seasons and movies when she get the bob cut is also so adorable!
I don't feel like I have a lot to say about the men's fashion. However, if I had to say something to even this out...I guess I would say my favorites when it comes to styles is Tom Branson and Thomas Barrow's. Because they are few of the male characters that goes through a lot of changes with their clothing styles. Matthew gets an honorable mention because his clothes he has throughout the seasons he was in looked great on him.
All in all, this is a great book and a must have for any Downton Abbey fan. Can't wait so see The Grand Finale next month at the cinema
Eventhough I enjoyed reading about both upstairs and downstairs characters clothes...of course the upstairs takes the prize and I have to put more focus on them. So now, my top 5 favorite fashion styles and sections in this book are (not based on who is my favorite character, but rather their clothing styles).
1) Edith, the colors and general style she picks is both cute and elegant throughout the show. Of all the characters I feel closest in fashion it was Edith. I mean honestly, about 85% of her clothes she is wearing I could considering putting on myself. Edith wears a lot of yellow from time to time which is my favorite color when it comes to clothing. Even her 2nd wedding dress when she is marrying Bertie Pelham is right up my style!
2) Mary has to be strong second for me because of the colors she chooses. Red and navy blue are some of my favorite colors for clothing. I love the colors and silhouette of her clothing. In my opinion, Mary's fashion s bold but elegant and classy at the same. The dress she was wearing when Matthew proposed is my favorite dress from the entire series.
3) Sybil and her style and some of the clothes she is wearing are a bit to bohemian for my liking. However, everything she wears look amazing on her. Especially the harem trousers she wears in the first season is one of my favorites. The color, the bold statement of her choice and overall accessories makes it great.
4) Rose, cute and wild. That's what I get. Like Edith, I really could consider wearing some of her outfits.
5) Violet, I love long dresses and the Edwardian styles in general. So to at Violet's dresses was a real treat for me. I'm happy to see Violet keeping it throughout the series with minor changes. The colors and how they changed to softer ones when the series progressed are some of my favorites parts of the fashion choices they madem
And as an honorable mention has to go to Cora, because I mainly like her style in the Edwardian style. The Edwardian fashion, especially the hairstyle suited her better. The 20s dresses looked great on her still. But it wasn't as great as many other characters in my opinion. Her coats are the most pretty things. Especially the one she gives to Mrs. Hughes when she married Carson is stunning.
Another honorable mention has to go to Daisy. Her pink kitchen maid dress she wears in the first seasons are so cute. And in the later seasons and movies when she get the bob cut is also so adorable!
I don't feel like I have a lot to say about the men's fashion. However, if I had to say something to even this out...I guess I would say my favorites when it comes to styles is Tom Branson and Thomas Barrow's. Because they are few of the male characters that goes through a lot of changes with their clothing styles. Matthew gets an honorable mention because his clothes he has throughout the seasons he was in looked great on him.
All in all, this is a great book and a must have for any Downton Abbey fan. Can't wait so see The Grand Finale next month at the cinema
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2024
Period dramas are always amazing to look at, and there's never been a better, more intricate one than Downton Abbey. The team behind the scenes were determined that every detail would be exactly right, and that included costumes for every character. Throughout the series costumes were used to subtly inform the audience about character arcs, the changing times, and even characters' circumstances.
The book alternates between going through character by character, and tackling broader topics like accessories or partywear. This saves it from getting monotonous, as the topics are constantly switching and swapping. Generally speaking, it's divided into Above Stairs and Below Stairs, though the non-character chapters feature players from both areas of the house and beyond.
The joy of a book like this, however, is in the images, and this book delivers in spades. Every page has at least one picture, many have more than one; they're mostly beautiful, full colour images taken from the show, but there are costumes sketches and layouts as well.
The accompanying information is fascinating and really easy to follow, whether you know anything about costuming or not (I don't, and I found it really interesting!) It's been really well written to be easy to follow.
If you enjoy Downton, or costuming, or behind the scenes info, this is definitely the book for you. In fact, if I were going to make a complaint, it would be that the book, being A4, thick and hardback, is heavy to hold up for a while - that's literally the only downside!
The book alternates between going through character by character, and tackling broader topics like accessories or partywear. This saves it from getting monotonous, as the topics are constantly switching and swapping. Generally speaking, it's divided into Above Stairs and Below Stairs, though the non-character chapters feature players from both areas of the house and beyond.
The joy of a book like this, however, is in the images, and this book delivers in spades. Every page has at least one picture, many have more than one; they're mostly beautiful, full colour images taken from the show, but there are costumes sketches and layouts as well.
The accompanying information is fascinating and really easy to follow, whether you know anything about costuming or not (I don't, and I found it really interesting!) It's been really well written to be easy to follow.
If you enjoy Downton, or costuming, or behind the scenes info, this is definitely the book for you. In fact, if I were going to make a complaint, it would be that the book, being A4, thick and hardback, is heavy to hold up for a while - that's literally the only downside!
December 11, 2023
OH. MY. GOODNESS. If you are a fan of Downton Abbey and have any interest in costumes, fabrics, and textiles, you MUST get this book! If you thought those gowns were beautiful on the show, wait until you see them close up in these large, crystal-clear photos! Now add the sketches made by the designers side-by-side with the photos of the finished product! After several times through just drooling at the pictures, I realized there is also a very interesting explanation of how the concepts of the costumes were devised, researched, and carried out. Now, I won my copy of The Costumes of Downton Abbey by Emma Marriot in a Goodreads giveaway, but if I hadn't, my husband would be searching stores for it right now because it would have been at the top of my Christmas list!
October 6, 2024
HUGE book with a bit of heft that you can only read while it rests on your lap because it's not the kind of book you can hold up without punishing yourself. However the photography is excellent, the write ups well done, and the scope pretty good.
Goes into how the costuming was sourced and researched. Some pieces were vintage while others were new constructions and others were repurposed with vintage and new. The colour palettes and evolution of the costuming for the characters due to period change and maturity change. There some minor looks at millinery and jewellery but very little attention paid to shoes.
The close ups were fascinating. The detail was great. Well thought out and a delight.
Goes into how the costuming was sourced and researched. Some pieces were vintage while others were new constructions and others were repurposed with vintage and new. The colour palettes and evolution of the costuming for the characters due to period change and maturity change. There some minor looks at millinery and jewellery but very little attention paid to shoes.
The close ups were fascinating. The detail was great. Well thought out and a delight.
March 3, 2025
The entire series is an absolute feast for the eyes! It is opulence at its finest! I wouldn’t really mind watching with the sound off. No other show can even begin to compare. Every look of every character is so well thought-out down to the tiniest detail. The unparalleled talent and commitment of the costume designers is on full display in this book. The text informs of the great consideration that went behind sourcing and creating the exquisite costumes of Downtown Abbey. The crystal clear photographs make you appreciate even more the sumptuous clothes and their intricate design, which is not really noticed by the viewer who is simply overwhelmed by the visual splendor on the screen. Reading this book is a sheer delight from start to finish!
January 5, 2026
A must have for DA fans and/or those who appreciate historical fashion. It's a big, heavy, beautiful book with lots of content and incredible photographs. When I saw DA costumes on a trip to Biltmore House some years back, I was taken aback by the detail that the viewer doesn't really see on the TV or film screen. This book shows a lot of that detail in closeup, plus we learn about the decisions the designers made for each piece. I found it fascinating. I cannot praise this book enough - it's wonderful!
December 2, 2023
I won this in the giveaways and they gave me this big beautiful hardback book that is perfect for a coffee table or to put somewhere for display. And that is just the book itself, the content is stunning as well, the level of professionalism it takes to get these costumes made is amazing. This is such a wonderful book and I'm very grateful I won it!
March 4, 2024
BEAUTIFUL book! If you're a die-hard fan of Downton Abbey, as I am, this deep dive into the costumes in the six seasons, and the two movies as well, is a must. And have you heard the rumors about an upcoming Season Seven???
July 21, 2025
An overview of various costumes worn throughout the “Downton Abbey” tv show and movies. It breaks them up by upstairs and downstairs, then by character and highlights things worn at special events like hunting and weddings. It includes many beautiful photos. A great collection for any fan.
October 2, 2023
the best costume book this after its read i also want to wear the costume if you also want so visit there https://grinchcostume.shop/
November 8, 2024
A glorious account of the costumes, their making and role in the series.
February 17, 2025
Very enjoyable book: great photographs and wonderful writing.
July 22, 2025
AMAZING 🤩
August 24, 2025
Gorgeous book for any Downton Abbey fan. There’s reading and more details, in addition to the remarkable costumes.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews