An Edwardian and ‘20s Afternoon Tea at the Kentucky Castle, With a Nod to a Beloved Show

Readying for afternoon tea in the ballroom of the Kentucky Castle

Several weeks ago, one of my dearest friends, Polly Singer, hosted an Edwardian-to-1920s afternoon tea in the ballroom of the Kentucky Castle. In the room’s glorious light, made all the richer by the gold and sparkle of its trim and chandeliers, and after the initial chatter had died down, we all stood, raised our 50-some flutes of champagne, and Polly welcomed everyone and the afternoon with a toast. The entire event thereafter was like that, sparkly and bubbly and effervescent.

The Castle serves afternoon tea in courses, and its standards are very high, so that our teacups were looked after well—no cold or empty cups here—and the savories and scones and sweets followed one another without hurry, but without awkward waits. Meanwhile, Polly made a series of presentations timed to allow everyone to socialize and enjoy the afternoon. She introduced us to the intricacies of teatime and etiquette from the late Edwardian era through the 1920s. She brought it to life by referencing bits of what so many of us remember from the Downton Abbey TV show, and it was so neat to see how everyone enjoyed it to the full. Downton is part of our common culture, so Polly stirred aha moments when she explained how etiquette and social mores were reflected in some of the show’s more well-known scenes, and how both shifted over the decades.*

During afternoon tea, one of Polly’s presentations

I’d brought a few antique Edwardian objects to show and talk about, and so went from table to table when the moments seemed right, with a circa 1909-12 taffeta day dress, and the scrumptious Edwardian ostrich and silk boa I wore, a necklace, and original photo postcards with people from the the very early 1910s. 

Talking with guests about the circa 1909-12 dress, which I think is of Nearsilk, a rayon.
Sigh, the end of my own undersleeve shows. It needs to be mounted, along with the lace collar, to an under waist (blouse).

You know how people love to touch and examine things, and to ask what they want to about them. It was great fun to give them the chance to do so, and to let the things they touched bring another time to understandable life. None of the things I brought were delicate, of course, except the boa—which people only stroked. Learning goes both ways, too, as one of the guests, and I smile as I write this, had brought a gorgeous beaded purse passed down through her family. The beads were minute and it draped and glided through your hands almost like water. How great to talk with her about it and family memories.

The picture postcards. Postcards were really popular and you could have pictures taken and then made into postcards to send or to keep as souvenirs.

Lingering, pictures, and “until next time!”

Afterwards we retired to the Castle’s dark-painted and cozy snuggery and sat next to a window overlooking the garden and the Bluegrass behind it, to talk about the afternoon and rest over a drink made with citrus and Highclere Castle gin, very good, and most welcome.

This was my second time helping Polly with one of her events and it’s so enjoyable, even if there is a great deal of planning involved. I spent from November right to the night before researching dress and hair in the U.S. and England circa 1911-13, making the dress, finding accessories, and setting up the props to show.

Channeling a 1912 matron

More about the dress in another post. Like most of my costumes—and a lot of you costumers out there may smile in recognition—the dress is at 1.0 stage. There is no under waist with the lace collar and under sleeves sewn to it, so they have minds of their own to the detriment of an entirely pulled-together presence. The dress is missing almost all of its trim, which is supposed to consist of cuffs with self buttons and loops, and buttons added to the applied panel down the front. The little antique crochet bauble at the waist and its black velvet bow were pinned on last moment, in desperation. I left the gloves behind. And the hat’s feathers need a steam. Still, it’s one of the prettiest and most comfortable outfits I’ve worn. The silk crepe is perfect for the era, the color like wine with the sun shining through it, and appropriate for my age.

And that beaver hat and boa! Both are originals, the fruit of 3 months of almost obsessive hunting and research on exactly what style would be right. They’re both jewels in the crown of the Edwardian collection gathered over decades.

The chapeau of dreams

If you would like to know more about Polly Singer, her events and her looseleaf teas, and her hats (!!), please see https://pollysinger.com/ and her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pollysingerhatsandtea. She always has something nifty going on or in the works. You may also recognize her from blog posts past, as we’ve been friends for decades now.

The Kentucky Castle is at https://www.facebook.com/thekentuckycastle/. It’s a boutique hotel and a local treasure.

Posts ahead, but they may be slow to arrive

That afternoon is a wonderful memory, but life isn’t especially easy right now. Family, work, flu season, et cetera: am finding that I’ll need fortitude and creativity and a great measure of prayer in the months ahead. 

There may not be much energy to sew, either. However, at odd moments I can write, and there is the precis for this ensemble to write up, and several others from 2-3 years ago, for Pete’s sake, and of course finishing the 1901-03 antique Edwardian lingerie dress’ documentation that I keep avoiding because it’s so detailed. Writing is a special escape, and rewarding if what is written helps other costumers and people interested in costume and dress history.

In the meantime, God bless.

Oh, and Mrs. C., if you read this, Google hasn’t let me comment on your blog. If there is a way to reach you, please let me know, or scribble to a frolic thru time historic dress all one word at gmail.

* The Kentucky Castle asked Polly to present on the subject, and references to the TV show were used as examples.