Carnival Films
Biltmore's conservators recently debuted the first costume appearing in the exhibition, a costume worn by actress Dame Maggie Smith for her character Violet Crawley. It is on display in the Second Floor Living Hall in Biltmore.
The Biltmore Company
Biltmore curator Leslie Klingner, right, and conservator Anne Batram work on a costume now on display in Biltmore House that was worn by actress Dame Maggie Smith's character on Downton Abbey in anticipation of the exhibition, "Dressing Downton: Changing Fashion for Changing Times," which opens Feb. 5.
The exhibition features more than 40 costumes from the PBS series "Downton Abbey." The clothing will be showcased in rooms throughout Biltmore House in groupings inspired by the fictional show and by real life at Biltmore, the Vanderbilt estate of the same era.
A preview costume was worn by Dame Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, during season one of "Downton Abbey" covering the years 1913-1914 was unveiled at Biltmore recently. Crawleys wardrobe is designed to enhance the character's imperious nature and to reflect an earlier Edwardian style, rather than following the modern fashions of the younger members of the family. Maggie Smith wore this costume for the flower show and garden party in episodes 5 and 7.
The costume is on display for visitors to view in the Second Floor Living Hall in Biltmore House now until the exhibition's opening day on Feb. 5.
For more information, go to http://www.biltmore.com/media/newsarticle/downton-abbey-costumes-at-biltmore.