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Downton Abbey Recap: We look back at the tiaras, feather headdresses and Blossom hats in the season 3 premiere!

Photography courtesy of eOne Films

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

After a long, agonizing and spoiler-avoiding wait since we watched Matthew Crawley propose to Mary outside in the glistening snow, we’ve been rewarded with the Downton Abbey season three premiere! Last night’s two-hour episode featured all the hallmark plotline teasers of a premiere episode, providing plenty of shades of the season to come (Flirting! Cancer! Being poor!). It also featured some seriously amazing fashion statements, from fancy headwear to embroidered gowns and new, stylish 1920s attire. As usual, our Downton Abby recaps will tackle the best and worst moments of each episode.

Best headpieces:
With the introduction of Cora’s mother Martha into the mix, it’s more than the British traditions that look out of date. Next to Edith and Sybil’s Blossom-esque floppy wedding day hats, grandmama’s flapper feathers look simply revolutionary.

Biggest first world problem this episode:
Aside from money problems, Irish revolution conversations at the dinner table and one last will-they-won’t-they-get-married moment, every other blunder this episode was about the men of Downton not having the right shirts to wear. Branson refuses to dress in a “costume of repression,” Alfred is tricked into burning Matthew’s dinner jacket and the Earl is forced to dress like a waiter (in a tuxedo, no less) when Thomas loses his shirts. What a sartorial nightmare!

Best old timey word we want to bring back:
Last night’s episode sure was a record in awesome one-liners, but we were complete awestruck by Carson’s “I have no intention of training young hobbledehoys,” in reference to O’Brien’s nephew Alfred being added to the staff. What is a hobbledehoy? Can you wear it? Drink it? Put it in your hair? According to Webster, it means “an awkward gawky youth.” We’d, however, like to pretend it refers to a jaunty accessory.

Biggest style shocker:
Edith! How did our least favourite sister manage to look the most put-together this entire episode? First there was the periwinkle-blue ensemble she wore to meet Sir Anthony Strallan at the train station. The drop-waist coat and matching hat was very fashion forward for Edith. By all accounts, she’s going to take full advantage of the changing times and be a true 1920s gal. Edith also debuted a new hairstyle: a pinned-up faux bob with finger curls. Will she eventually go all the way and cut her hair into a shorter style, like Sybil did, or just keep taking advantage of Anna’s impressive skills? We’ll be watching.