It might normally be considered something of an insult to suggest an A-lister’s haute couture frock looks like it’s been made from the curtains.
But that’s more or less exactly what Lily James wore at London Fashion Week last night – a designer outfit inspired by a pair of drapes.
Not your average Ikea design, mind, but an historic pattern from the late Duchess of Devonshire’s fabric collection.
Designer Erdem Moralioglu visited her family pile, Chatsworth House, where he was given rare access to the archive of the fashionable socialite originally known as Deborah Mitford, the youngest of the sisters who dominated London society in the 1930s and 1940s,
Lily James (pictured) wore an outfit at London Fashion Week inspired by an historic pattern from the late Duchess of Devonshire’s fabric collection
Inspired by her chintz curtains, designer Erdem Moralioglu created designs such as the mustard floral print jacket and skirt that Downton Abbey star Ms James donned for his show at the British Museum. Pictured: Example of curtains the outfit resembles
Inspired by her chintz curtains, Moralioglu created designs such as the mustard floral print jacket and skirt that Downton Abbey star Ms James donned for his show at the British Museum. The 34-year-old wore the jacket open to reveal her white bralette, and paired the outfit with metallic gold stilettos.
Surrey-born Ms James posted a glowing review of the show on Instagram, writing that the collection was ‘exquisite. Such story telling and beauty woven into every detail.’
She sat on the front row with fellow actresses Kristin Scott Thomas, 63, and Zawe Ashton, 39.
Ms Scott Thomas wore a bright green maxi coat with a matching floral cut-out skirt and smart white shirt, while Ms Ashton donned a blue ruffled dress
Dame Kirstin Scott Thomas (pictured) wore a bright green maxi coat with a matching floral cut-out skirt and smart white shirt
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan (pictured) also attended and wore a bold red maxi gown with a daring pair of cherry red gloves and black stilettos
Actress Ruth Wilson (pictured) wore a statement chequered coat with maxi floral print details
Also attending the show was Derry Girls and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, 37 – who wore a bold red maxi gown with a daring pair of cherry red gloves and black stilettos – and actress Ruth Wilson, 42, who wore a statement chequered coat with maxi floral print details.
They were not the only fashion week attendees to attract attention – one came in a pair of sunglasses whose frame was made from silver nuts and bolts. Ms James is a long-term fan of the Erdem label, having attended another London show last September.
There she wore the designer’s black asymmetric tiered maxi skirt, which costs £731, and grey £425 alpaca-blend cropped jumper, which had black floral sequin detailing.
Last week the Mail revealed that filming has secretly started on a new series of Downton Abbey, eight years after the last aired, but it is not known if Ms James has signed up.
