Downton Tea

I’m a Downton Abbey fan and I’m a fan of wearing nifty 1920s attire. So when a friend, who happens to also be a costume aficionado, told me about a Downton event requiring apparel from 1910-1925 and fabricated Britishness, I considered it my honorable duty to attend.

I set this scene up in the Secret Garden. It was the bee's knees!
I set this scene up in the Secret Garden. It was the bee’s knees!

On a fine Saturday, about sixteen of us dolled up and congregated at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens for tea at the Trellis Cafe followed by a garden stroll. After all, what’s more pretentiously British than sipping tea and wandering around vast grounds? Nothing as far as I can tell, except maybe crumpets and suppressed sentiments.

I bought this dress instead of making it myself. My regard for sewing does not extend to stringing thousands of beads.
I bought this dress instead of making it myself. My regard for sewing does not extend to stringing thousands of beads.

I brought my camera and tripod to this gathering and got a number of noteworthy pictures, some of which only give away the century they were taken in with their color and quality.

Our group attracted the attention of many garden ramblers for unknown reasons.
Our group attracted the attention of many garden ramblers for unknown reasons.
Jason had a bit of a Newsies thing going on. His glad rags looked ducky.
Jason had a bit of a Newsies thing going on. His glad rags looked ducky.

Jason and I had a lovely time savoring an era that slipped away decades ago and chatting with a set of people as enthusiastic about time-period clothing as us. Several ladies in our group commented about how the populations of costumes in their closets have multiplied so many times that they outnumber everything else and constantly threaten any and all powers of containment. Hmm…that sounds slightly familiar.

The Fragrance Garden provided an elegant background for this well-bred pose.
The Fragrance Garden provided an elegant background for this well-bred pose.

Cheers to vintage apparel and company willing to take partying to historical levels!

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