While the aristocracy often inform mood boards and glossy magazine pages, we should not be distracted by the romanticisation of inherited titles and unearned fortunes
It is a peculiar quirk of the British aristocracy that you can hold a title, such as the duke of Devonshire, and have no connection to the part of the country to which it is referring. The Devonshires – first earls and later dukes – do not reside in Devon. Past and present property includes Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire, and Chiswick House and Burlington House in London . The jewel in the portfolio is Chatsworth: a magnificent Grade I-listed pile in Derbyshire, often described as one of Britain’s favourite stately homes. For those who have a lot of it, land becomes just another heirloom to be parcelled up, sold off, bequeathed and bounced down and around the generations, like a nice handbag or antique opera coat.
This summer, Chatsworth hosts Erdem: Imaginary Conversations, an exhibition exploring the influence of the late Deborah Cavendish, nee Mitford, former inhabitant and muse for the designer’s spring/summer 24 collection. Showcasing deconstructed ballgowns and bejewelled insects, the opening look is the funniest, a fraying tweed skirt-suit alluding to the Duchess’s love of derbyshire redcaps and Scots dumpies. Erdem says he wanted it to look “ravaged by chickens”.
Continue reading… While the aristocracy often inform mood boards and glossy magazine pages, we should not be distracted by the romanticisation of inherited titles and unearned fortunesIt is a peculiar quirk of the British aristocracy that you can hold a title, such as the duke of Devonshire, and have no connection to the part of the country to which it is referring. The Devonshires – first earls and later dukes – do not reside in Devon. Past and present property includes Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire, and Chiswick House and Burlington House in London . The jewel in the portfolio is Chatsworth: a magnificent Grade I-listed pile in Derbyshire, often described as one of Britain’s favourite stately homes. For those who have a lot of it, land becomes just another heirloom to be parcelled up, sold off, bequeathed and bounced down and around the generations, like a nice handbag or antique opera coat.This summer, Chatsworth hosts Erdem: Imaginary Conversations, an exhibition exploring the influence of the late Deborah Cavendish, nee Mitford, former inhabitant and muse for the designer’s spring/summer 24 collection. Showcasing deconstructed ballgowns and bejewelled insects, the opening look is the funniest, a fraying tweed skirt-suit alluding to the Duchess’s love of derbyshire redcaps and Scots dumpies. Erdem says he wanted it to look “ravaged by chickens”. Continue reading… Fashion, Erdem, Life and style, Aristocracy, The Mitford sisters, Society, UK news, Brideshead Revisited
