Fashion Inspired by Downton Abbey

I’d venture to guess that no one was more surprised by the cult phenomena level success of the show Downton Abbey than its creators. The show, set in Yorkshire, England in the 1920s, is now one of the most widely watched period television dramas of all time.

So, it follows suit that our fashion taste buds may have been tickled by the series. Enough so that the glamorous, roaring twenties style dresses, jewelry, and hats are inspiring our modern day fashion choices in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

Just yesterday I was at a popular store and I saw an entire rack of what I would have otherwise assumed as costumes a “Roaring 20’s” party. Only, I recognized that these weren’t costumes at all, rather just some of the newest spring fashions. Lace skirts and blouses, sleeveless sheath dresses with beautiful embellishments, and cool hats to top it all off.

The Downton inspired styles demand appropriate accessories. The dresses are best accented by single strings of pearls or monochromatic beads. Drop earrings are another necessity because they just happen to look stunning with the swept back hairstyles that were typical of that time period.

So, if Lady Mary or Violet Crawley (the Dowager Countess of Grantham) needed to find a great pair of designer eyeglasses with their dinner ensemble, what would they choose? Although I’ve never seen anyone on the show sport a pair of glasses, I think I have a few ideas of just the style they would need.

First, the frame would have to be something dainty and understated. Large and plastic frames are definitely from a different era than that of the Lords and Ladies of the Abbey. I could see a frame like this one from House of Dereon complimenting a lady like dress and looking cute with a hat. Since the styles from the show are so feminine, I also think I metal frame like this one from Vera Bradley would compliment the style nicely. You want to make sure that you find an eyeglass frame that doesn’t compete with your jewelry, be it your grandmother’s pearls or a vintage strand of black beads you picked up at a thrift shop.

A third option is to choose a super slim eyeglass frame like this one from Guess. It will pair well with a glamorous hat and a beautiful up do.

Check out the full selection of designer frames at your closest Eyeglass World.