Downton Abbey is the most stylish show on television.
But somehow it’s never won the Emmy for costume design.
That is a travesty. Somewhere, a valet weeps.
I guess it sort of makes sense. When a show revolves around the tuxedoed aristocracy, it starts to feel like they’re playing with a stacked deck. But that doesn’t mean they should be penalized for such good timing. The other contenders have been dealt some pretty dire style ruts from their period setting, like Outlander’s frivolously rococo garb. Or the extremely unflattering ’90s suiting of The People v. O.J. Simpson. Or the musty pile of velvet and pelts that is Game of Thrones’ wardrobe department. And then there’s Roots, which is set in the most uncomfortable time period of all. So, yeah, Downton has that edge. But you’ve still got to do something with it. And they have done some good stuff. Tweed stuff. And white-tie stuff. And black-tie stuff.
I could go on about how there’s no way Downton’s stylishness isn’t leaps and bounds beyond the rest of the nominees, regardless of their head start, but instead I’m going to put the proof right in front of your eyes. Five frames culled from the show’s entire run that prove how stylish it has been. Men lie. Women lie. Pictures don’t.
But somehow it’s never won the Emmy for costume design.
That is a travesty. Somewhere, a valet weeps.
I guess it sort of makes sense. When a show revolves around the tuxedoed aristocracy, it starts to feel like they’re playing with a stacked deck. But that doesn’t mean they should be penalized for such good timing. The other contenders have been dealt some pretty dire style ruts from their period setting, like Outlander’s frivolously rococo garb. Or the extremely unflattering ’90s suiting of The People v. O.J. Simpson. Or the musty pile of velvet and pelts that is Game of Thrones’ wardrobe department. And then there’s Roots, which is set in the most uncomfortable time period of all. So, yeah, Downton has that edge. But you’ve still got to do something with it. And they have done some good stuff. Tweed stuff. And white-tie stuff. And black-tie stuff.
I could go on about how there’s no way Downton’s stylishness isn’t leaps and bounds beyond the rest of the nominees, regardless of their head start, but instead I’m going to put the proof right in front of your eyes. Five frames culled from the show’s entire run that prove how stylish it has been. Men lie. Women lie. Pictures don’t.
