Super Model Scouts: Edwardian Fashion

I'm absolutely in awe of the Edwardian fashion shown in Downton Abbey and have since discovered other beautiful (and some not so beautiful) outfits from that era. Some of the dresses are breathtakingly gorgeous and yet some of the designs and colours are just not to my taste...

LOVE these!
Worn by Queen Maud of Norway circa 1910-1913

Lady Sybil turned heads in Downton Abbey when she walked in sporting pantaloons instead of an anticipated new dress. Although this scene in the series took place in 1913, it was not the first time that harem pants were seen. Charles Frederick Worth introduced such a costume in 1870 (shown on left above).

Description of Worth's pantaloons (The Met) - This Turkish style costume exhibits the European and American fascination with Turkish dress which stems from the 18th century and endured throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. This trend culminated in 1911 with Paul Poiret's "harem" pants and Turkish themed fancy dress ball, "1002nd Night." This particular pair of Turkish trousers combined with its elaborately embroidered fashionable bodice, is appropriate for a fancy dress ball and indicates the lengths that people would go to for this type of costume event. Owning an expensive Worth fancy dress ball ensemble would have been the epitome of distinction and extravagance.

Sources: most of these images found through Victoria &Albert Collections and The Metropolitan Museum of Art Other sources include: Fashion-Era, Victoriana.com, Costumer's Manifesto, Edwardianera, Defunct Fashion, The Ladies Treasury, Across the Ages, Vintage Textile, Historical Fashion, Wear It Again Sam

Edwardian fashion in Downton Abbey:
Period fashion, Costumes from episode 1, A Milliner's Dream: The Hats! and Picture Galleries

Period Fashion: Mourning dress, FASHION INDEX

_________ Image gallery of fashion 1900 - 1915 __________

1913 / 1912