Author Archive

Downton Abbey, the British TV series, is a huge favorite in the English speaking world.  With sharp dialog, sparkling sets, and fabulous clothes, who doesn’t love the Sunday night extravaganza of opulence and biting rejoinders? Being historically true to its times, it is a favorite of our duchesses.

It is such a phenomenon that Downton Abbey is going to shape what we see and read for the next several years. Ordinarily, we duchesses stick to historical fact. Today, I am going to take us on a journey of futuristic fantasy. Or, more bluntly put, my best guesses. Read the rest of this entry »

When one is attending a country house party with as beautiful and talented an assortment of aristocrats as we have here at Dashing Duchesses, one must take special care of one’s appearance. Today we’re going to take our hints from Baroness Blanche Staffe’s book, The Lady’s Dressing Room, published in 1893. Read the rest of this entry »