Designing for Downton

Delightful online lecture from the Victoria and Albert Museum interviewing Anna Robbins, costume designer for Downton Abbey.

Robbins has designed for the last two series of Downton and the three films. One stage with her were some of the pieces from the latest film, which hadn't come out when the talk happened, and she talked us through the design process for them.

She was ably interviewed by Emily Harris from the museum who got her to talk though how she gathered her ideas, how the outfits were constructed and how she used vintage pieces. She talked about how the clothes had to be historically accurate but were to be used in a world of imagination and had to reflect the narrative arch of each character.

I was fascinated to hear how often one outfit then sets the palette for a whole scene with other pieces reacting to it.

I now can't wait to see the film at the weekend!

Stop Press: I have seen the film by the time of writing, in fact I’ve seen it twice, and loved it.

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