Sandy Childers will present “The Fashions of Downton Abbey: A Social History” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at the Waupaca Area Public Library.
Hosted by Winchester Academy, the program is free and open to the public.
The PBS television series, “Downton Abbey,” is set in a fictional Yorkshire country estate during the early 20th century. Four complete seasons have been aired so far, and the fifth will begin airing on Jan. 4.
“Downton Abbey” has received critical acclaim and won numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries.
Downton Abbey depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the post-Edwardian era. It features the historical events that affects their lives and on the British social hierarchy. Some events depicted in the series include news of the sinking of the Titanic, the outbreak of World War I, the Spanish influenza pandemic, the Marconi scandal, the formation of the Irish Free State, the Teapot Dome scandal, and the UK general election of 1923 and the Beer Hall Putsch.
“Downton Abbey” has also achieved popularity based on the fashions and costumes designed for the characters in the series.
Childers is assistant professor of costume design at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She will explain how changes in society brought about changes in how people dressed, including historical, artistic and practical decisions that influenced their choices.
Childers earned her master’s degree in costume design from Illinois State University and her bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of Utah. She has designed costumes for both theater and dance.
She has designed stage costumes for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, UW-Stevens Point), Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, the Center for the Performing Arts at ISU, Ironrose Productions in New York, Carco Theatre and Greenstage in Seattle), Babcock Theatre in Salt Lake City and Salt Lake Shakespeare.
Her experience also includes eight years as a fashion designer in Seattle and New York City and freelance work for Marc Jacobs, Victoria Secret Pink and Converse One Star.
As an added Christmas bonus, the Winchester Academy program will be preceded by a performance of the Waupaca High School Madrigal Choir, under the direction of instructor Kira Morrissey. The Madrigals will perform at 6 p.m. in the lower meeting room, followed immediately by the “Downton Abbey” program at 6:30 p.m.
Winchester Academy programs are funded through sponsors and tax-deductible donations. Childers’ program is sponsored by Pat and Mary Phair.
For more information about Winchester Academy, check winchesteracademywaupaca.org or contact Executive Director Ann Buerger Linden at 715-258-2927.