Downton Abbey

The Downton Abbey Exhibition

I have wanted to see the Downton Abbey Exhibition ever since I first heard about it. I watched closely to see where it was traveling, and held my breath, hoping it would come to a location that was within a reasonable drive. When it was announced that it was going to have a stay in the Chicago area, I was excited…and dismayed. Because the original schedule made it impossible for me to see it. But then they extended the show to include the time we were in the area for Combo Breaker, and I was thrilled that Bunny and I would be able to see it for ourselves!

The first room we walked through was full of props and propaganda, plus interesting historical facts. We saw many familiar items from the show:

We even got to see a police document and handcuffs (no surprise there, as the Bates’ were in an out of jail on the regular!):

What really impressed me were how many full letters/telegrams we had the opportunity to read. These are items that were props on the show, but in many cases, never read aloud…I love that even though the audience was not privy to the contents of these documents, they were still well thought-out and complete!

There were a few technical difficulties in that room (flickering lights in some displays that made some of the information difficult to access), so I wasn’t really sure what to expect next. I was beyond thrilled when we walked right into the Servants’ Hall! We’re talking the full set from the show…the table, costumes, props, and of course the bell board. There was even a flight of steps leading “Upstairs!”

Next we walked through Mrs. Patmore’s kitchen. Again, it was the full set. All of the food and cooking implements that were so familiar from the show and more costumes:

The door to “Mrs. Hughes’ office” was closed, but we got to walk through Mr. Carson’s pantry. We saw his desk with the controversial phone and his wine decanting apparatus, as well as a cozy seating area and even more costumes:

We then moved on to a transitional space where we took a quiz to see what kind of servant we would be (unsurprisingly, we both ended up in the kitchen!), and also got a peek at a few of the Dowager Countess’ costumes and her desk:

We then moved on to Lady Mary’s bedroom, which had a few costumes like the other sets:

And then on to the dining room, which was just as grand as you would expect it to be!

Did someone hear the gong? Because Bunny and I both rang it, which must mean it’s time to change!

The final room, which focused on the fashion of the show, may have been my favorite part of the exhibition. When we visited Cheekwood in 2017 and saw “Dressing Downton,” I thought it was outstanding (and it was!). But there is just so much more on display in the current show, and I don’t think there were even any repeats of what we saw in the past! Getting to see so many beautiful costumes (complete with hats, shoes, and accessories) from the film up close was such a thrill (you notice so many more things under the bright lights in person)…I could have looked at just the clothing all day!

I especially enjoyed the section dedicated to Downton weddings, which allowed me to get a close-up view of the Grantham bridal tiara:

Another favorite display was of the outfit Lady Rose wore when she was presented to the King and Queen:

And Lady Sybil’s famous pants outfit was also fun to see in person!

In addition to outfits, there were also quite a few beautiful hats on display:

Plus jewelry and other accessories, including some floral elements:

I still can’t quite believe we actually got to see this exhibit for ourselves, and to be honest, if it came to the St. Louis area, I’d probably tour it again!

Markel Family Combo Breaker 2024 Getaway—-Day Three

Before we got to work at Combo Breaker on the third day of our trip, Bunny and I went to Westfield Old Orchard shopping center in Skokie to see the Downton Abbey Exhibition, where we got to see props, full sets, and costumes. It was absolutely amazing…details to follow!

When we were done, we stopped to pick up boba before heading back to the hotel.

And then we got to work. Bunny helped Ladybug, Turkey, and Moose with registration, and Chickadee and I helped with the food in the staff lounge.

The two of us did have time for a walk around the hotel and a visit to the hotel lounge we had access to for the first few days of our trip before bedtime.

Up next…the start of Combo Breaker 2024!

The Top Five–TV Shows (Revised)

My “Top Five” lists are never met to be set in stone, and in the six years since I first came up with a list of my five favorite TV shows, my favorites have changed a bit.

  • I Love Lucy–This has been my favorite TV show for a long time. I’ve watched every episode more times than I can count, and yet I never get sick of it. Are there elements of the show that haven’t aged well? Sure. But there are also funny jokes, moments of great physical comedy, fantastic guest stars, and outstanding fashion and interior design!
  • M*A*S*H—Scrubs used to appear on this list, but I basically swapped one medical show with another. The boys and I watch a few episodes every night before bed, and when we get to the end, we just start all over again, and we never grow tired of it. It’s a funny show, but it was also way ahead of its time in how it addressed social and political issues, and I’ve really come to appreciate that.
  • Downton Abbey–The glamour and intrigue of this show never grows old. I love watching the lives of those who live upstairs and those who live downstairs, and how those lives intersect. Plus, did I mention the glamour?
  • Rick Steves’ Europe–After planning an entire summer school around this show, I guess it should be no shock that it’s one of my favorites. I love asking “where should we go today?” and then turning on an episode. I always feel like I’m learning something when I watch, too, so it’s not just mindless TV!
  • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic–The show is a bit of a wild card, but Bunny, Chickadee, and I are just finishing watching through the run of the show, and I find that I really love it. It’s so relatable, and each one of us has a pony whom we particularly identify with. It may be a children’s show, but it’s a lot of fun for me as an adult to watch, and I think I’ll look back and cherish this time that my youngest daughter, oldest daughter, and I had so much fun together!

I thought I’d feel bad about kicking Friends off the list, but while I do still enjoy watching it from time to time, I’m not as into it as I once was. I do feel a little guilty about removing Deep Space Nine, though…it is still my favorite Star Trek show, however!

Sartorial Saturday–Inspired by Downton Abbey

“I am not ‘miss,’ I am Lady Mary Crawley.”

Most of my wardrobe consists of retro fashions, and most of those represent the 1940s-60s (but primarily the 1950s). There’s something about today’s look, featuring the Melania-Abalone blouse and Becky-Bo skirt from Miss Candyfloss, that just screams Downton Abbey and the 1920s to me, though!

I love the bishop sleeves on the blouse, and the skirt is so soft!

I think the paired hat, which I’ve had for years, but looks like it was made to go with the outfit, is a big part of the look. So is the Art Deco brooch from Erstwilder and a long string of pearls. And the details on the blouse, including the sweet bow and lovely buttons, also add to the opulent feeling that reflects that time so well:

This is my first pair of separates from Miss Candyfloss, and to be honest, in a reversal of my usual concern over fit when buying a dress for the first time, I was really worried about how these pieces would work. I followed the size chart, which recommended a size larger than my usual in the skirt, and I’ll be honest…that was unnecessary. The skirt is quite big in the waist, and I’ll need to have it tailored eventually. For now, though, a pin in the back was enough to adjust the fit. The blouse, on the other hand, fits perfectly, and I couldn’t love it more!

I love this color palette and these fabrics for fall, and I’m looking forward to finding different ways to wear these pieces!