Downton Detour

Road trips are always an adventure!

Here in the Biltmore Estate garden, we met up with the most delightful floral belle!

My sister and I have just wrapped up a wonderful trip to Hilton Head Island...spending hours in the car together on the way through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and finally arriving at our destination in South Carolina.  Along the way, we witnessed/experienced traffic jams, detours, winding mountain passes and a terrible accident.  Hotel reservations for two overnights were made as we travelled:  Asheville, NC was the first night and we arrived there later than my usual bedtime.  What really piqued our interest as we approached Asheville were prominent billboards advertising Dressing Downton at the Biltmore Estate.  What??? We knew a detour in the morning was coming!

 

This picture appeared on the billboard and also in the commemorative book purchased on location.

Early rising was a snap!  With no advance tickets purchased, we knew we had to be there even before the Biltmore Estate gate opened.  Our plan worked and we made it in time before tickets were no longer available. How very jolly we were --- pip pip Cheerio!

Front entrance

No photography was allowed once inside the Estate.  (This really allowed full concentration for full observation.  The pictures below have been "lifted" from the web and the book I bought.)  There were about 45 wardrobe masterpieces in the collection worn by the cast of this beloved PBS show. In person, these outfits were stunningly beautiful with every attention to detail: hats and jewelry included. The outfits were placed on mannequins and parked in appropriate mansion rooms.

Lady Mary and Matthew (not shown: the soon deceased Turkish diplomat) in Season 1.
 

 

Earl of Grantham wore this to the Charity Concert  in Season 2.

Tom's Chauffeur uniform Season 1-2.

Mrs. Hughes - Season 1.

Some of my favorites:  Earl of Grantham, Cora and Dowager Countess in their Garden Party attire Season 1.

Lady Sybil, Earl of Grantham, Lady Mary Season 2.

Lady Rose on the right in Season 4.

Lady Edith in her "boyish" look in Season 3.   This dress was one of my faves!

Cora's Garden Party hat.

Did you know that this is a travelling show? After leaving the Biltmore Estate, these garments will make their way to Wisconsin, Virginia, Chicago, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. You might need to take a road trip detour yourselves to see this
show if you are a Downtown Abbey fan!