Being the history nerd I am, I’ve always enjoyed the story of Marie Antoinette. I loved the fact that she was somewhat of a rebel, a bad ass. She was a young bohemian living amongst the most royal of the royal with very strict rules in her Versailles palace.
Married to King Louis the XVI when she was just 15, she became the Queen of France and had access to anything she desired. Although King Louis was extremely shy and quite boring, that didn’t stop Marie Antoinette from having her own ball! This girl loved to gamble, drink champagne and she partied into the early dawn.
She was well known for her passion for fashion! Designers from Paris would come to the palace with samples of fabrics, accessories, shoes and dresses for her to choose. With her lavish taste, she was very frivolous and had no problem spending the King’s money on extravagant, expensive jewelry and clothing. Her modern glamour and fabulousness inspired couture designers from the eighteenth century all the way until now.
There is so much history on Marie Antoinette, in books, documentaries and paintings. Sofia Coppola created a movie on this fascinating young queen. I just recently watched it and noticed how much of this spring’s trends may have been inspired by this young queen’s exquisite taste. So I thought, “hmmm, I wonder what she would wear if she were here today”?
Here were my picks:
Marie Antoinette loved nature and her tastes were inspired by it. Floral prints lived throughout her palace. It was floral everything; walls, curtains, bedding, furniture and china. So I’m not surprised she loved floral print dresses. Today’s floral prints are back and what perfect timing for spring! These patterns are fresh and feminine and can be worn with a solid or as a full dress. Not every woman can pull off such a pattern but I’m sure the Queen of France would!
In the 1700s both men and women wore heels. No one was allowed to wear heels that were higher than the king’s, so at that time they were not so high. Just like today’s kitten heels! Marie Antoinette adored shoes, mostly when decorated with lavish embellishments, pearls, fabrics, ribbons and feathers. There was a scene in the movie devoted to her love for shoes which showed a pastel purple converse sneaker! I could totally imagine her wearing that on her long walks around the palace grounds. With the many candy colored shoes available this spring, I think Marie Antoinette would be in her glory!
Feathers were commonly seen as trim on some of the most exquisite dresses of the 17th century and were also weaved into hairstyles and headpieces. The queen loved detail and when Paris fashion designers sent her new dresses and fabrics to try, she’d spare no expense in adding more detail with feathers, ruffles and jewels. Marie Antoinette had a love for nature and it was not uncommon to see feathers, flowers and artificial birds placed strategically in her hair pieces. Today, feathers are more than just detail, they are the entire look. I think she would embrace these lavish looks and wear them with pride!
Nothing says feminine like ruffles and bows! I can bet that almost everything in Marie Antoinette’s wardrobe was adorned with a ruffle or bow. Even men’s shirts in the 1700’s were ruffled. We too have inherited this trend and this spring’s fashion shows it off. Continued from Fall/Winter 2017, large sleeves with ruffles, blouses tied up by bows, and any tops that are unconstructed are hot this spring. The more elegant and delicate the better! I can bet we would see quite a few of these in the queen’s closet today, and probably in almost every color and fabric too!
Pastels are not just for Easter Sunday anymore. Just like the pretty macaroons Marie Antoinette indulged in, these tones are screaming spring 2018! They’re easy on the eye and pair well together. From mint to lavender to green to yellow, designers have brought these colors to life. These colors were worn casually by the Queen and her royal family during the daytime. And just like their dresses, these colors look charming worn head to toe. Don’t be afraid to mix and match! They all work well together. And, we must not forget all of the accessories out there in these shades to complete the look!
I am sure there are so many more trends that she would love! These are just some of my top picks! Which spring trends do you think she would want in her closet? Let me know some of your thoughts! I really enjoyed the move by Sofia Coppola. The costumes were fabulous, the movie is funny and Kirsten Dunst did an amazing job playing the part of Marie Antoinette!
XO
Laura
