Happy Birthday Marie Antoinette!
On November 2, 1755 Marie Antoinette was born in Vienna, Austria, making her 259 years old today.
I spent most of my Sunday, inside, relaxing and snuggling up with some good books, pot of tea, and of course, blogging on my mind.
I thought I would share with you three amazing books about Marie Antoinette and her epic impact on the world through her fashions.
RELAXING,TEA, and BOOKS!
Would you like a cup of tea?
Green Tea, is my drink of choice. Whenever I want to unwind and relax, it is always a pot of green tea and a nice book. Now for a little nerd alert, here is an interesting fact about Green Tea.
Green tea contains catechins, which creates positive functions for all organs in the body.
"It is cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-obesity, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-artherogenic, liver protective and beneficial for blood vessels."
Basically it means it helps you lose weight, prevents diseases, and improves all functions of the body.
BOOK #1
(English)
'The Queen of Fashion' by Caroline Weber, is a fascinating book. I highly recommend this book because it has an interesting twist on the perspective of fashion and its influence and power in politics. When we think of politics we think of money, power, and the "issues" they petition for. However, even in modern day politics, 'fashion' is always used as a way to influence the views of a certain candidate.
Neck tie color, hairstyle, eyeglass type, are some examples of fashions that are pre-analyzed to create an image of power and authority for a candidate.
The same fashion manipulation was practiced in the Bourbon court over 250 years ago. The moment Marie Antoinette set foot on French soil, she was trained to dress and walk as a Queen. The idea of "Royal" meant you were the nearest to God, nothing about her could evoke "common". They even went as far as rearranging her teeth, without anesthesia, in order to achieve a smile of superiority.
Clothes were also political in the sense who designed them. Just as Michelle Obama makes a scandal when she wears a non American designer the same would occur if Marie Antoinette had worn a non French designer.
As Marie Antoinette started to taking bigger risks with her fashion choices and went agains Bourbon traditions, this is when the problems began. She angered many powerful people, who then influenced a type of "tabloid" caricature of her to spread false propaganda.
A very interesting read, and well worth it.
BOOK #2
(FRENCH & ENGLISH)
LE XVIII AU GOUT DU JOUR : Couturiers et Createurs De Mode Au Grand Trianon (The 18th Century Back in Fashion: Couturiers and Fashion Designers in the Grand Trianon) II actually went to see this exhibition in Versailles, France, and purchased the book then. The book is written in French and English and it was made in correlation to the exhibition at the Grand Trianon. They displayed iconic modern day couture gowns inspired by Marie Antoinette, and such designer gowns by Lagerfeld, YSL, Gaultier, and Dior were displayed.
The book also contains very detailed historical references and interesting information, highly recommended.
BOOK #3
(FRENCH)
Modes du XVIII siècle sous Louis XVI et Marie-Antoinette, is a book I purchased in France. It is a beautiful book with hand paintings of the Fashions during the 18th Century. From accessories, hairstyles hats, dresses, everything is included in a beautiful collection of what Fashion was like in the 18th Century.
Another favorite of mine, it is highly recommended.
x,
Maya
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