Dressing for Downton came to a close on April 13, 2014 after a five-week sold out run at Spadina Museum: Historic House & Gardens. Our creative director, Nancy, has been a Downton Abbey groupie since she discovered the series during a trip to England in 2010, so she jumped at the chance to volunteer. The exhibit featured 20 costumes from the highly-acclaimed TV drama and a selection of dresses and accessories from the City of Toronto’s collection of the same era. Before visitors were taken to the exhibit (via the servants’ stairs!), display panels offered a glimpse into Spadina Museum’s history, the gift shop tempted them with Downton Abbey and era-themed souvenirs, and her volunteer comrade, Jane, peppered them with Downton Abbey trivia. Following their time on the third floor with the costumes, visitors were taken on a Downton Abbey-themed tour of the Spadina House. The fantastic spin-off from hosting the exhibit at Spadina Museum was the number of first-time visitors it drew from Toronto and beyond. A virtual high five for the city’s heritage.
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- Spadina Museum
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- Mrs. Hughes’s Chatelaine
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- The Downton era in Toronto
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- The Downton era in Toronto