When Calls the Heart Christmas Special 2016 - Costumes and other historical inaccuracies

So I know Christmas has been over for a while, but the last few months have been a bit hectic so I haven't gotten round to writing a review until now.

Anyone who has read my previous post on the subject of this Hallmark show, knows that I have a bit of a problem when it comes to the serious lack of historical accuracy of the show's costumes. They seem to be getting worse by the second. But for some reason, up until now, I kept watching the show. But after the Christmas special, no more!! This is saying a lot, as I love Christmas and I am a complete sucker for the traditional over cheesy Christmas films that Hallmark bring out every year. But this episode was too much. Along with the awful historical inaccuracies in the clothing/hair/makeup, the thing that got me the most was the Christmas tree lights in Rosemary and Le's house. They live in a small house in a small frontier town in the 1910s, there is no way the town's houses would have had electricity, Or even that one house would have had a generator. All the other lights in their house were gas lit, but the tree lights were definitely electric. I wonder, were they powered by fairy dust?! This, coupled with the quality of the story-line seriously dropping, means that the show is no longer watchable. It is so sad really as the show had so much potential at the beginning. Anyway, onward and upwards to brighter things - did anyone see the fabulous "Hidden Figures" - the clothing in that was amazing. :)

Regency Picnic at Mompesson House

This post is unfortunately evidence of how appalling I have become at posting! It seems to be a talent of mine!! I can't even remember when this event was, though for some reason September is coming to mind, so September it shall be.

So back in September :) , Mompesson House (National Trust) in Salisbury, put on an exhibition of artefacts from the 95 version of Sense and Sensibility. It was to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film, as the house was used as Mrs Jenning's London residence. For the opening weekend the NT invited a local regency group to have a picnic in the garden. A few friends are in the group so I was invited to join. 

Compared to most National Trust properties, Mompesson is on the small side, and has a relatively small garden. It's really just a lawn, but a decent sized one. So we arrived with our food and lawn games and took over the garden for a lovely afternoon of eating, game playing, dancing and chatting.

Unfortunately I didn't end up taking many photos of the picnic as we were trying to be as historically accurate as possible for the public.

One of the picnic tables. Everyone (except me!) bought baskets full of amazing regency food.

An delicious flummery . I made an eighteenth century version of a cheesecake for the occasion, but of course left it at home!! :)

A few fellow picnickers playing a game of Battledore.

At one point in the afternoon I escaped into the house to view the exhibition. I have been around the house before so my photos mainly concentrate on the costumes and artefacts from the film.

Colonel Brandon in the Drawing Room (So sad about Alan Rickman)

Tea caddies!! There were a few gorgeous items around the house that were too just pretty not to take a photo of. :)

Coffee set, but still pretty. :)

One of Elinor's ball gown's

Underclothes, which I think are Victorian. (Not entirely sure why they were part of the exhibition. Maybe they are on display all year round).

One of Marianne's outfits  

Mrs Jenning's bonnet

An embroidered handkerchief of Edward's. Sadly I don't think it was the original one he gave to Elinor.

Fanny Dashwood's bonnet

The rest of the photos are of a few original Regency items that the house owns.

Would love this fan.

When Calls the Heart - TV Series Costumes

I am a big fan of  the When Calls the Heart tv series, and was so excited when the new series aired over the weekend, but what is with the costumes and hairstyles???!!! As a historical clothing enthusiast, I can't help but get slightly irritated by the clear lack of historical accuracy when it comes to the costumes the actors wear and how their hair is styled, in both this series and the last. For a show that is set in the 1910s many of the outfits look like vintage-inspired modern clothes, or just plain modern.

Here are a few examples:

(Hallmark website)

The women look alright, but Jack (gentleman on the right) looks like he has just stepped out of a Ralph Lauren (don't get me wrong he looks good, but definitely not 1910s). And this is the outfit (or a very similar one) that he wears to lunch at a smart restaurant in Hamilton. What self-respecting man during that time period would go out to lunch in a smart city restaurant without wearing some sort of cravat/tie. I highly doubt the restaurant owners would allow him in their establishment whilst not wearing one. 

(Hallmark website)

This image could be from a modern day drama, with one of the characters having a penchant for wearing cravats! Why is the ladies hair not up? They are not in an informal setting, which would allow for such a relaxed style in that era. I'm sure I have read somewhere that up until the 1920s, loose hair = loose morals, so no respectable women would consider wearing their hair down in public. (I could be wrong though).

(Hallmark website)

 This image of Elizabeth and Jack could be 21st century aswell (minus the suitcases. Though I am sure there are vintage enthusiasts who use similar suitcases today). There was also one scene (which I couldn't find an image of) where Elizabeth's sister Julie is wearing a skirt with a giant slit up the back!!!

(Hallmark website)

However, some of the costumes aren't half bad. These outfits look much more period correct.

Edit: I now realise that the above photo was taken from Season 1 when they clothes were much better. They seem to be getting worse and worse each season (as does the hair and make up)!! :(

I don't profess to being an expert on Edwardian clothing, far from it, just an enthusiast who has visited many clothing museums and read a few books. It's just from everything I have learned most of the costumes look far from period correct. 

What do you all think? Any opinions/knowledge? I would be very interested to hear what anyone thinks.

Tea at the Lanesborough Hotel

At the beginning of November last year, I had tea with my family, to celebrate my birthday, at the Lanesborough Hotel. The Lanesborough is an interesting hotel, as up until quite recently it was a hospital! However, you would never guess now that it wasn't built as a hotel. I think they kept the original facade, and completely remolded the interior.  

Tea is served in the hotel restaurant, Apsleys

It has a sort of modern take on art deco style.

Have to take photos of the china. :)

The food. It was delicious apart from the cucumber sandwiches. They are usually my favourite but these ones seemed to have rice in them! Rather strange.

The all-important clotted cream and jam. :)

I didn't remember to take a photo of the scones until we had already started eating them! :)

One of the waiters overheard my family wishing me a Happy Birthday, and they brought me this. For some reason I cut out the cake, but it had a candle on it and was delicious (the cake not the candle!!!). :)

After we had finished eating I wondered around the hotel reception and found these amazing flowers

...and a lovely regency portrait. :)

Love the gown.

Apart from the strange cucumber sandwiches, it was a wonderful tea. Not only was the food good but so was the setting, and the live piano music. I also loved the fact that when the pianist went on his break, they put on the soundtrack from the 1980s version on Brideshead Revisited!!!! :) 

Though not the absolutely best tea I have had in London, it is right near the top and I would definitely recommend it. :)

Celebrating 200 Years of Pride and Prejudice - Part 3: Longbourn

After Laycock, we made our way to the village of Luckington (aka Longbourn). First we went to the church, which was the church used in the final wedding scene in P&P 95. 

This is image is pinned up on the church noticeboard

The step on which Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane and Bingley stand for their wedding. :) 

Everyone wanted to stand on it. :)

We then walked up to Luckington Court (Longbourn House), which is just across the road from the church.

The stables

:)

Me being silly. :)

Claire and I being silly.

First of all we went into the Dining Room and had a delicious tea. It was the same room used in the film, but sadly the wallpaper had been painted over. :( 

Sadly we weren't allowed to take photos of the rooms inside the house, but we were allowed to photograph the tea table. :)

After tea we went out into the garden.

Me in front of the 'prettish little wilderness'. :) Unfortunately the gate wasn't open, so all we could do was stare longingly through the bars. 

We had great fun taking silly photos in the garden! :)

We did a bit of regency-style sunbathing. :)

We then moved to the alcove/grotto next to the house, just off the lawn, and took more silly photos.

We then went back into the house to do some dancing. It was held in the entrance hall so sadly no photos.  But twas great fun. :)

It was a fabulous day up until the point when a mixture of too much sun, cake eating, dancing and spinning round and round on the lawn (with childish excitement!!) made me sick. :(  But thankfully by the next morning I was much better. All in all it was a lovely weekend. :)