Rococo Fashion

Marie Antoinette with a Rose by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, 1783

Cake and couture...the perfectly sweet combination that epitomizes the era of Marie Antoinette. She ruled the late-1700s fashion scene as the Dauphine and later Queen of France from 1774-1793. Her years in the French palace were forever marked by her style choices. 

Madame de Pompadour by Francois Boucher, 1759

Before Marie Antoinette arrived to the palace and made her mark on French fashion, Madame de Pompadour embodied the beauty of Rococo style. She became famous as the mistress to King Louis XV. She epitomized the look of the era with luxurious gowns that included soft pastel hues, decorative details and romantic designs.

Mid and late 18th century fashion for women during the Rococo period included plenty of ribbons, lace and ruffles on heavy silk brocades, gowns fitted with corsets and silhouettes widened by panniers. The goal of a woman’s gown was always one of elegance, extravagance and beauty. 

The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard, 1767

Candy colors, florals and romance abound with Moschino designs perfect for Marie Antoinette or a Rococo painting. Pictured in collage: Declaration of Love by Jean Francois de Troy 1731, Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette & Rococo worthy Moschino designs

Summer Power Dressing

Bows. Prints. Sneakers. Florals. Tweed. Metal. Using a variety of prints, colors, textures and styles, the Spring 2020 collection from Tory Burch offered a fresh take on work ready clothing. 

No longer are women confined to the 1980s definition of the power suit in order to walk into the office with a boss persona. Now women can embrace femininity alongside powerful details, whimsical prints and athleisure ready accessories when creating a workwear wardrobe. 

Tory Burch has made a name for herself with her all-American brand. This collection did not disappoint as it remained true to her clean and classic aesthetic. 

Queen of Rococo

Marie Antoinette, played by Kirsten Dunst and directed by Sophia Coppola in 2006. Marie entered Versailles in a classic Rococo style pastel gown in a soft shade of blue.

Versailles. A place of luxury, dreams, politics and romance. The palace served as the heart of the French court for over 100 years during the 17th and 18th centuries. 

It was within the palace’s shimmering walls that Marie Antoinette made her home as the Dauphine and then the Queen of France. Ruling the cultural and political scene in the years before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette became a fashion icon. 

Pictured in collage: Marie Antoinette style on the Thom Browne Spring 2020 runway; Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette; Marie Antoinette 18th century painting by Jean-Baptiste Andre Gautier d'Agoty; interior view of Versailles.

During the Rococo era, Marie Antoinette embodied the stylistic notions of the movement by embracing the romantic details, ornamentation and light hearted spirit in her fashion choices. Rococo fashion often included pastel shades, ribbons, bows and an air of frivolity. 

Pastel confection with luxe layers, feminine details and sky high hair.

If Marie Antoinette was still alive and reigning from the palace of Versailles, she would surely be dressed in Thom Browne’s Spring 2020 collection. The designs were dripping in romance and whimsy. 

History of the Power Suit

When we hear the term “power suit,” images of 1980s female executives charging into the boardroom with broad shoulders enhanced by shoulder pads quickly come to mind. 

However, the history of the power suit and power dressing started well before Melanie Griffith cemented the iconic image in her role as Tess in the 1988 film “Working Girl.”