Image Credit: 1928 Jewelry Co.
Prepare to get bejeweled in the spirit of your favorite Downton Abbey character – a line of baubles based on the PBS series will be in stores soon.
Knockout Licensing has struck a deal with 1928 Jewelry Co. for the official Downton Abbey jewelry line, which will include necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches, rings, and hair jewelry for women, as well as cufflinks for the Matthew Crawley in your life.
The best part?
Image Credit: NICK BRIGGS
Soon you’ll be able to dress like your favorite Downton Abbey character. The licensed merchandise line will also include furniture, wallpaper, and beauty products. [Vanity Fair]
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Image Credit: Joss Barratt; BBC
It’s a battle of the Downton brides!
While Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) kicked off the third season of Downton Abbey by getting hitched to Matthew (Dan Stevens) in an elegant, lace dress, which was accented with Swarovski crystals, younger sister Edith capped off last night’s episode by walking down the aisle in a simple, satin gown with an embroidered train. (Her nuptials however didn’t exactly end on a happy note).
But which bride was best dressed? We leave it to you to decide. Take the poll below and head to the comments to tell us if Edith finally trumped her older sister, or if she should prepare for (yet another) heartbreak. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Courtesy of © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE
Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) just can’t catch a break.
After two seasons of failed relationships, Downton Abbey’s dejected middle sibling finally stepped into the spotlight last night as she walked down the aisle to wed her (much older) suitor, Sir Anthony Strallan (Robert Bathurst). Though the moment was ultimately short-lived (Edith’s fiance left her at the altar), costume designer Caroline McCall says she wanted to make sure it was memorable.
“[Edith has] always been a little bit of an awkward character,” McCall tells EW. “She’s always looking for her place in the world and I wanted her to look absolutely stunning on her wedding day. I wanted [her] to find her place.”
To create Edith’s wedding gown, McCall took cues from designers like Lanvin, but the biggest inspiration turned out to be an original silk train adorned in flowers and crystals that she borrowed from a friend.
“[That] was the starting point really,” says McCall. “We brought through the embroidery from the train and put it on the shoulders and the hips. It was like a draped silk dress. It’s very simple and elegant.”
To top it off, McCall added the pricey “family bridal tiara,” which Mary (Michelle Dockery) wore at her wedding to Matthew (Dan Stevens) in last week’s episode. That, however, was where the similarities between the two brides ended. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE
Shirley MacLaine says playing Downton Abbey‘s Martha Levinson required a great deal of restraint, a keen eye for detail, and plenty of backup.
And that was just to get dressed.
“Those authentic costumes took some work,” the Oscar winner admits in the new issue of The Saturday Evening Post. “The corsets were really demanding and the buttons on everything were so small.”
While the nouveau-riche Martha’s American-style clothes are less restrictive than those of the Dowager Countess, MacLaine says she still needed help getting into her period costumes. READ FULL STORY »
The return of Downton Abbey is just a few days away, but if you’ve forgotten what the upstairs and downstairs of The Crawley mansion looks like, tune into HGTV’s Castles On Camera – Royal Residences On TV for a behind the scenes tour of Downton‘s real-life location.
Set on more than 1,000 acres of land, the site of Highclere Castle has been owned by the family of the Earl of Carnarvon since the 17th century. The gothic style manse was designed by famed architect Sir Charles Barry — who took on the project after finishing the plans for the British Houses of Parliament — in 1838. Fans of Downton Abbey will recognize much of the furniture and other decor details, as the owners often loan pieces to the show’s production design team.
Watch an exclusive clip of the tour below and see the full episode of Castles On Camera – Royal Residences On TV special when it airs on HGTV tonight at 9pm EST. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: PBS
Just in time for the holidays (and also the lead up to the premiere Jan. 6!) PBS has released an exclusive line of T-shirts for Downton Abbey. I’ve got to give them credit – while T-shirts with more obvious phrases such as “I’m A Mary” have already been on the market, this new set gets snarky.
Earning a spot on my holiday wish list is a black number (above) that features a picture of Matthew and Mary alongside the phrase “Kissing Cousins,” a statement so obvious and hilarious I’m surprised I haven’t already been surrounded by it in promos. Other winners include a “Haters Gonna Hate” T-shirt with a pic of Thomas and O’Brien, and a “Receding Heir Line” shirt next to a picture of Robert. Well played, PBS. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Image Credit: Wonder Shirts/Knockout Licensing
Last summer, when I heard the news that a Downton Abbey licensing deal had been struck, I began to picture myself coming to work in a cinched-waist dress and oversized costume jewelry. Needless to say I was a little disappointed to see the first offerings from the Masterpiece Classic-inspired merchandise line: a 2013 engagement calendar, a variety of 1000-piece puzzles, and a line of message T-shirts and tote bags.
I want Mr. Bates out of jail just as much as anyone, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to walk around with that sentiment emblazoned on my chest.
This is a fairly unimaginative marketing decision for a buzzy show like Downton Abbey, so I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed. Thankfully, reps from Knockout Licensing tell me that future offerings from the line will likely include jewelry and home furnishings, which would begin to roll out sometime in 2013.
While I wait for season 3, I’ll probably cave and pick up an “I’m A Mary” T-shirt. After all, she is kicking off the 1920s with Matthew Crawley and an engagement ring — I wouldn’t mind following in those footsteps.
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On the heels of designing Team USA’s uniforms for the London Olympics, Ralph Lauren is showing his support of British television.
The designer has signed on as a “presenting sponsor” of PBS’ Masterpiece (formerly known as Masterpiece Theatre), a slate of programs includes Upstairs Downstairs and Sherlock.
As part of the deal with PBS, the Ralph Lauren Corporation will also create unique ads for the stylish Masterpiece series Downton Abbey. The period drama and the American label are a match made in fashion heaven — Abbey’s wardrobe designer, Susannah Buxton, scored an Emmy nomination for Best Costume Design, while all the tweed and herringbone in Lauren’s Fall 2012 collection had critics convinced he was a fan of the show.
“To have Ralph Lauren choose Masterpiece as their first TV sponsorship is an incredible tribute to our series,” executive producer Rebecca Eaton told The Hollywood Reporter. “Their support will help us maintain the standard of excellence that drew them to Masterpiece in the first place.”
Ralph Lauren’s sponsorship messages will begin Sept. 30 on PBS.
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