Are you a Downton Abbey fan?

I am!

And the thought that this wonderful series is truly over, still has me a bit stunned.

Thank goodness for DVD's!

I recently was blessed to spend a lunch hour fully immersed back in my beloved Downton Abbey!

The Driehaus Museum is housed in the Nickerson Mansion built in 1879.

Lucky for me this museum is just a short stroll from my office.

Last month the museum was host to a fabulous exhibit, "Dressing Downton"!

This mansion was the perfect setting for all of the fabulous costumes that I have come to love.

From Lady Sybil's maternity outfit on the right

to Lady Rose's outfit when she met the dashing, Jack Ross.

 How wonderful to see all the detail up close and in person!

The backdrop of the mansion was equally stunning.

The tile work in this room was unlike anything I have seen before.

Doesn't it seem like the characters of Downton will walk down this staircase at any second?

The downstairs staff were also represented with Barrow's livery and Mrs. Hughes' outfit.

I was coveting the keys and that belt buckle.

Such attention to detail!

The styles and clothes take your breath away!

(Lady Mary's riding habit when she first meets Matthew Crawley.)

The Dowager Countess' wit rang in my ears as I looked at the clothes that she actually wore.

I love when they include a photo of the outfits in action in the series.

This showing The Earl and Cora attending the Downton Village Flower Show. 

(The frogging on Cora's coat is stunning!)

Such memories they bring back.

(The Earl and Cora attending the hospital's charity concert. Cora's dress made from a rare piece of antique beaded fabric with a stunning velvet coat.)

I can imagine that this mansion has seen similar fetes in its day...

How very thin they are!

(Lady Mary's outfit when Sir Richard visits Downton.)

I don't know which I loved more - the dress with its incredible beadwork or the stained glass and parquet of the setting...

Stories were included with each outfit - some antique, some of antique fabrics and some newly created.

This gown was created from the beautiful edging of an antique 1920's table cloth!

I don't really recollect this scene, but...

The silk cannelle embroidery on this jacket is absolutely stunning on person!

as I looked at these three coats, I thought of the three sisters and where their lives led...

Each one uniquely theirs...

Maybe I should restart viewing the series from the very beginning,

watching for the scenes of these outfits and the incredible attention to period details.

I wouldn't mind going for a bike ride in this practical, yet pretty outfit.

If I squint just a bit, I can see and hear the Dowager Countess and Martha Levinson exchanging their mildly veiled barbs.

All too soon, my lunch hour was over and it was time to head back to the real world.

I guess that this is the closest that I will get to reliving Downton Abbey, 

unless I get to Highclere Castle one day...

If you live near Cincinnati, South Bend, Anaheim, Nashville or St. Augustine, 

you still have a chance to view this incredible exhibit! It is currently on the move...

Thank you for letting me share my long winded lunch time adventure. 

Since you made it to the end, I have a tiny giveaway for a little Downton Abbey tea sampler purchased at the exhibit gift shop. 

Simply leave a comment with your favorite Downton character or send me an email to pgagliardi9@hotmail.com and I will pick a winner on Tuesday, June 14th.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being"

~Ephesians 3:14-16

Blessings, Patti