On hearing today's news that a 4th series of Downton Abbey is in the pipeline; a bold divulgence considering series 3 is yet to be screened, it brings me to share with you another pretty spectacular revelation of the bare flesh variety. Edwardiana may be a key trend for the coming Autumn but the Grantham girls find themselves worlds away from their on screen characters in this gothic themed shoot for achingly cool bi-annual Love magazine. Styled by Love's Editor-in-Chief Katie Grand and photographed by the famous fashion duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott; Jessica Brown Findlay (Lady Sybil), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), and Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith) star as otherwordly beings, with crazy candy floss hair, greasepaint smears and a wardrobe ranging from new season Alexander McQueen to vintage Vivienne Westwood.
It's not the first time that the Grantham girls have shed their period costumes for something a little more racier, having stared in a Christmas disco shoot for Marie Claire magazine in 2011, which caused much controversy for being considered tacky. But the girls have definitely raised their stakes in gracing the covers of highly acclaimed fashion-meets-art Love magazine and in so doing have catapulted themselves to the forefront of the cultural elite. Having been given the royal fashion stamp of approval by Katie Grand, who is widely known by fashion insiders as Katie-Grand-A-Minute for commanding £3,000- £4,000 a day as a fashion stylist and consultant for big names such as Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Prada and Giles Deacon, the girls are definitely the new trio to watch. What more lies in store only time will tell but as for transformations concerned this is pretty dramatic.
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Jessica Brown Findlay as the ethereal bride for one of a series of covers
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| The usually plain Edith wears little more than a piece of netting to cover her modesty. |
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With flowers stuck in her huge wild hairstyle and dramatic orange eye make-up, Michelle is barely recognisable. Showing off her enviable curves, this is a definite bodice riper of a pose.
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Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith reclines seductively on a red velvet sofa, displaying very un-Edith like behaviour by revealing her naked legs to the camera.
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| How we're used to seeing the actresses as Ladies Sybil, Mary and Edith in Downton Abbey. |
Love 8 "A Costume Drama" Autumn/Winter 2012 is on sale now.
