The television series Downton Abbey has transported many of us into the fascinating world of Britain’s landed gentry. We are now anticipating the soon-coming release of the Downton Abbey movie. While the characters are fictional, the British setting has provided lessons in history and culture before, during, and after World War I. The Crawley family has become like our family as we’ve followed their joys and sorrows. The costuming has presented a beautiful array of the era’s fashions. We’ve indulged in seeing tweed riding outfits for a fox hunt, a fur trimmed blue velvet coat, stunning jewelry, feathered hats, men’s dinner jackets, beaded wedding gowns, and jeweled headbands. Clothing was wrapped in strict protocols and not to be violated. For example, when a male character showed up for dinner in a white, rather than black formal bow tie, guests reactions amounted to a small scandal.
The elaborate Edwardian era fashions demanded staff who helped dress and undress the gentry. It’s said that women in an opulent world like Downton wore as many as seven different outfits a day. It’s astounding to think about the time and help it took to rotate the appropriate outfits whether going on a fox hunt, high tea, church , or a festive ball. Fashion held a prominent place in society and governed behavior in many ways.
Our clothing as Christians is important too but it’s clothing of a spiritual nature. Colossians 3:12-14 describes the kind of clothing we are to don each morning. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. …and of all these virtues, put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity."
The clothing of character, compassion, and kindness is clothing that carries far deeper meaning than outward fashions. It’s the clothing that portrays the loving character of our Lord and our part in allowing His love to shine on others around us.
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