I have been counting down all summer and finally the long awaited season premier has come and gone. As I am in Japan I was late to the Downton party for seasons 1&2, boo to being behind but this meant that I could get both complete seasons, settle into the couch, cup of tea in hand and watch them back to back. The idea of having to a wait a week in between episodes is frustrating to say the least.
As expected from the Christmas special, season 3 kicked off with the wedding of Mary and Matthew, pictures of which I am sure are now flooding every vintage wedding inspired website the world over.
Mary looked the perfect 1920's bride in a simple long sleeved dressed covered in seed pearl and topped off with a floor length veil the focal point of which was her gorgeous diamond tiara. It has been noted by fashionista historian types that her Tiara looks a lot like that made by the House of Fabergé in 1900 for a bride of the Grosvenor family which was a design of myrtle leaves and berries sacred to Aphrodite the Goddess of love.
Season three also saw some new faces at Downton most notably that of Shirley Maclaine who is playing Cora's American mother Martha Levinson. I can only hope that the chemistry between Shirley and the Dowager Countess, played by Maggie Smith, will result in not only an ongoing battle of wits but also of hats.
Other hats on display were those of the Crawley Ladies at the wedding...
Mary in her going away outfit...
Mrs Crawley's red coat, red hat comb...
and, one of my favourites of the episode, Cora's bi-corn admiral inspired hat which appeared briefly in the scene in Mrs Crawley's drawing room where the ladies were discussing whether or not to send money to Sybil and her husband to enable them to attend the wedding. Unfortunately I can't find a good picture of the hat so will have to settle for a candid backstage shot and merely watch the episode again whenever I want to see the hat.
Sunday can't come soon enough!
