Lily James dons designer outfit inspired by a pair of the late Duchess of Devonshire’s chintz curtains for London Fashion Week

Normally, it could be considered an insult to suggest that an A-lister’s haute couture dress looks like it was made from the curtains.

But that’s more or less exactly what Lily James wore to London Fashion Week last night: a designer outfit inspired by a pair of curtains.

Not an average Ikea design, mind you, but a historic pattern from the fabric collection of the late Duchess of Devonshire.

Designer Erdem Moralioglu visited her family pile, Chatsworth House, where he was given rare access to the archive of the fashionable socialite originally known as Deborah Mitford, the youngest of the sisters who dominated London society in the 1930s and 1940s.

Inspired by her chintz curtains, designer Erdem Moralioglu created designs such as the mustard floral print jacket and skirt that Downton Abbey star Mrs. James wore for his show at the British Museum. Pictured: Example of curtains that the outfit resembles

Inspired by her chintz curtains, Moralioglu created designs such as the mustard floral print jacket and skirt that Downton Abbey star Mrs James wore for his show at the British Museum. The 34-year-old wore the jacket open to reveal her white bralette, and paired the outfit with metallic gold stilettos.

Surrey-born Ms James posted a glowing review of the show on Instagram, writing that the collection was ‘exquisite’. Such stories and beauty are woven into every detail.”

She sat front row with fellow actresses Kristin Scott Thomas, 63, and Zawe Ashton, 39.

Ms Scott Thomas wore a bright green maxi coat with a matching floral cut-out skirt and a crisp white shirt, while Ms Ashton wore a blue ruffled dress

Dame Kirstin Scott Thomas (pictured) wore a bright green maxi coat with a matching floral cut-out skirt and a smart white shirt

Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan (pictured) was also in attendance, wearing a striking red maxi dress with a daring pair of cherry red gloves and black stilettos

Actress Ruth Wilson (pictured) wore a statement checked coat with maxi floral print details

Also in attendance at the show were Derry Girls and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, 37 – who wore a statement red maxi dress with a daring pair of cherry red gloves and black stilettos – and actress Ruth Wilson, 42, who wore a statement checked coat with maxi – floral print details.

They weren’t the only Fashion Week attendees to turn heads: one of them came with a pair of sunglasses whose frames were made of silver nuts and bolts. Ms James has been a fan of the Erdem label for many years, having attended a show in London last September.

There she wore the designer’s black asymmetrical tiered maxi skirt, which cost £731, and a £425 gray alpaca blend cropped jumper with black floral sequins.

Last week the Mail revealed that filming has secretly started on a new series of Downton Abbey, eight years after the last one aired, but it is not known whether Mrs James has signed on.