HOW VERSAILLES INSPIRES FASHION

Chateau de Versailles is a place of inspiration and dreams. A reality so unreal, it takes your breath away. It is no surprise to me that such a place, continuously creates inspiration in the world of high fashion. 

Marie Antoinette, or the Queen of fashion, was known for her quirky innovative style and trendsetting ways. Is it possible that she was also inspired by her home? 

DETAILS

When you walk through the private rooms of Marie Antoinette, take your time to see the details. 

The intricate blending of textures, colors, and shapes will leave you in awe. No detail is overlooked, and it is as if you are living in a work of art. 

COLOR

The colors found at the Petit Trianon and the Grand Trianon are exhilarating. Combinations of colors you would never imagine to cohesively work, somehow create such beauty. 

My current obsession with adding turquoise to burgundy, is highly inspired by these very rooms.

NATURE WALKS

By far, the most inspiration is found in the long walks around the grounds of versailles. 

I know it maybe tempting to rent the little golf cars or pay to be driven to each destination, but it is in these silent long walks that you get a true taste of the magic that exists. 

Some of my most inspirational moments have occurred just walking in puddles, and imagining Marie Antoinette's life. 

Fashion is most beautiful when it coexists with its surroundings. It never tries to hard, and has a melodious harmony.

MAIN CHATEAU

The main Chateau is vibrant, imaginative, and powerful. It is extremely reminiscent of Louis the XIV,  or more famously known as the Sun King. 

The energy is strong, and dynamic. 

The famous "Hall of Mirrors" is filled with glorious chandeliers and optical illusions, created by the strategic use of mirrors. 

The wooden floors are beautifully arranged in geometric design. 

GEOMETRIC BEAUTY

The use of Geometric patterns is cleverly used throughout the parks and rooms. It creates a beauty that mimics nature with a contemporary touch. 

It amazes me how such techniques of shapes and geometry are still being used in modern day fashion. 

xo,

Maya

Walk With Me Through Versailles

Chateau Versailles is a place I hold very dear to my heart. My countless walks through these grounds, are moments, of inspiration, reflection and delight. It is a beautiful way to absorb the magnificent beauty of life, beauty and nature. Such an enchanting place, it's as if a story book comes to life!

Join me as I stroll through the beautiful grounds of Chateau Versailles with you...

The trees are filled with character, and whisper all the secrets of Versailles. 

Hello Mr. Cat. This adorable kitty lives on the grounds of Versailles,and quite a friendly creature..

Red currant? Delicious. If you pay attention there are many fruit trees on the grounds at Versailles. 

Hello Mr. Lamb....Were you playing in some hay?

Stop looking at me. No love in the Temple of Love. Ironic...

So breath taking you can almost here the music in the wind, the trees, and the birds...

As the day is now coming to the end, this will be my final post dedicated to Queen Marie Antointte's Birthday!

Join me tomorrow as I return to the normal schedule of Daily Fall Style!

xo,

Maya

A Night at the Opera in Versailles!

Click to See Chateau Versailles Concert Schedule!

A night at Versailles is never complete without a majestical concert in the the Opera House. It is an experience of a lifetime, making it almost tangible to grasp an evening with Marie Antoinette. 

The house is intimate, engaging, and electric. The excellent craftsmanship of decadent gold details, are sure to delight your eyes, while music flows through your soul. 

                                        WHAT I WORE

My shoes are Vintage Lord and Taylor, Bag is Valentino, and dress by vintage CHINE. 

xo,

Maya

Tea Time at Trianon Palace Versailles

In Celebration of Marie Antoinette's Birthday, I decided to reminisce on a delightful memory I had at the Trianon Palace Versailles. 

Trianon Palace Versailles is my favorite hotel to stay in Versailles. It is situated walking distance to Marie Antoinette's Grand Trianon, and PetiteTrianon, and my favorite place in the world. The ambience is eclectic, beautiful,historical,and contemporary. Walking through the gardens, which is literally right next to the hotel, you can experience the life of what it must have been like to live there. Enchanting, magical,and magnificent!

                                          Tea Time!

Such a beautiful collection of exotic fruits bursting on your palette, with just the right blend of the smoothest and most decadent chocolate. Such delightful sweets fit for a queen I would say! Any prior   knowledge of what decadence may be, will be beautiful replaced by a whole new level of luxury. 

A once in a life experience everyone should have!

                                       WHAT I WORE

I believe these photos are from Springtime, which explains my rather light attire. This dress is one of my favorites! I found it in a dusty vintage boutique in Brussels, which is from the 60's. The material is gorgeous, and the small petticoat under the A-line skirt is a marvelous way to pouf it out. 

xo,

Maya

Happy Birthday Marie Antoinette!

Happy Birthday Marie Antoinette!

Born on this day, November 2, 1755, in Vienna, Austria, Marie Antoinette would be 260 years old today! As the last Queen of France, and forever Queen of fashion, she was innovative, courageous, but most of all, a woman of strength.

Largely misunderstood through false propaganda, Marie Antoinette is not accurately portrayed as the person I have researched her to be. Her grace and beauty was unsurpassed, while her heart was pure and kind.

Read the following account of Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, and her depiction of Marie Antoinette as a person. (Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun was an Artist who painted many of Marie Antoinette's Portraits) 

Queen Marie-Antoinette 1778, by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun

Marie Antoinette Through the Eyes of Her Painter:

"It was in the year 1779 that I painted the Queen for the first time; she was then in the heyday of her youth and beauty. Marie Antoinette was tall and admirably built, being somewhat stout, but not excessively so. Her arms were superb, her hands small and perfectly formed, and her feet charming. She had the best walk of any woman in France, carrying her head erect with a dignity that stamped her queen in the midst of her whole court, her majestic mien, however, not in the least diminishing the sweetness and amiability of her face. To any one who has not seen the Queen it is difficult to get an idea of all the graces and all the nobility combined in her person. Her features were not regular; she had inherited that long and narrow oval peculiar to the Austrian nation. Her eyes were not large; in colour they were almost blue, and they were at the same time merry and kind. Her nose was slender and pretty, and her mouth not too large, though her lips were rather thick. But the most remarkable thing about her face was the splendour of her complexion. I never have seen one so brilliant, and brilliant is the word, for her skin was so transparent that it bore no umber in the painting. Neither could I render the real effect of it as I wished. I had no colours to paint such freshness, such delicate tints, which were hers alone, and which I had never seen in any other woman." 

"I painted various pictures of the Queen at different times. In one I did her to the knees, in a pale orange-red dress, standing before a table on which she was arranging some flowers in a vase. It may be well imagined that I preferred to paint her in a plain gown and especially without a wide hoopskirt. She usually gave these portraits to her friends or to foreign diplomatic envoys. One of them shows her with a  straw hat on and a white muslin dress, whose sleeves are turned up, though quite neatly. When this work was exhibited at the Salon, malignant folk did not fail to make the remark that the Queen had been painted in her chemise, for we were then in 1786, and calumny was already busy concerning her. Yet in spite of all this the portraits were very successful."

"Toward the end of the exhibition a little piece was given at the Vaudeville Theatre, bearing the title, I think, "The Assembling of the Arts." Brongniart, the architect, and his wife, whom the author had taken into his confidence, had taken a box on the first tier, and called for me on the day of the first performance. As I had no suspicion of the surprise in store for me, judge of my emotion when Painting appeared on the scene and I saw the actress representing that art copy me in the act of painting a portrait of the Queen. The same moment everybody in the parterre and the boxes turned toward me and applauded to bring the roof down. I can hardly believe that any one was ever more moved and more grateful than I was that evening."

"I was so fortunate as to be on very pleasant terms with the Queen. When she heard that I had something of a voice we rarely had a sitting without singing some duets by Grétry together, for she was exceedingly fond of music, although she did not sing very true. As for her conversation, it would be difficult for me to convey all its charm, all its affability. I do not think that Queen Marie Antoinette ever missed an opportunity of saying some thing pleasant to those who had the honour of being presented to her, and the kindness she always bestowed upon me has ever been one of my sweetest memories."

"One day I happened to miss the appointment she had given me for a sitting; I had suddenly become unwell. The next day I hastened to Versailles to offer my excuses. The Queen was not expecting me; she had had her horses harnessed to go out driving, and her carriage was the first thing I saw on entering the palace yard. I nevertheless went upstairs to speak with the chamberlains on duty. One of them, M. Campan, received me with a stiff and haughty manner, and bellowed at me in his stentorian voice, "It was yesterday, madame, that Her Majesty expected you, and I am very sure she is going out driving, and I am very sure she will give you no sitting to-day!" Upon my reply that I had simply come to take Her Majesty's orders for another day, he went to the Queen, who at once had me conducted to her room. She was finishing her toilet, and was holding a book in her hand, hearing her daughter repeat a lesson. My heart was beating violently, for I knew that I was in the wrong. But the Queen looked up at me and said most amiably, "I was waiting for you all the morning yesterday; what happened to you?"

"I am sorry to say, Your Majesty," I replied, "I was so ill that I was unable to comply with Your Majesty's commands. I am here to receive more now, and then I will immediately retire."

"No, no! Do not go!" exclaimed the Queen. "I do not want you to have made your journey for nothing!" She revoked the order for her carriage and gave me a sitting. I remember that, in my confusion and my eagerness to make a fitting response to her kind words, I opened my paint-box so excitedly that I spilled my brushes on the floor. I stooped down to pick them up. "Never mind, never mind," said the Queen, and, for aught I could say, she insisted on gathering them all up herself.

"When the Queen went for the last time to Fontainebleau, where the court, according to custom, was to appear in full gala, I repaired there to enjoy that spectacle. I saw the Queen in her grandest dress; she was covered with diamonds, and as the brilliant sunshine fell upon her she seemed to me nothing short of dazzling. Her head, erect on her beautiful Greek neck, lent her as she walked such an imposing, such a majestic air, that one seemed to see a goddess in the midst of her nymphs. During the first sitting I had with Her Majesty after this occasion I took the liberty of mentioning the impression she had made upon me, and of saying to the Queen how the carriage of her head added to the nobility of her bearing. She answered in a jesting tone, "If I were not Queen they would say I looked insolent, would they not?"

"The Queen neglected nothing to impart to her children the courteous and gracious manners which endeared her so to all her surroundings. I once saw her make her six-year-old daughter dine with a little peasant girl and attend to her wants. The Queen saw to it that the little visitor was served first, saying to her daughter, "You must do the honours." 

-Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun

 "Tribulation first makes you realize who you really are" 

-Marie Antoinette

This quote is my favorite quote from Marie Antoinette, and it speaks volumes to my own experiences with "tribulation". It is rather easy to be kind, regal, and admirable when you live a life of very few complications or challenges. However, when that world is turned upside down, who you really are, will be exposed. Will you stand up to the challenge and grow strength in ways you never knew? Or will you cower into the background, and let your soul rot with everything else. Marie Antoinette is an inspirational character for her ability to remain courageous despite all the fear and pain she must have gone through. Till the very end she remained admirable, regal, and a true Queen. 

Today will be dedicated to all things Versailles, and Marie Antoinette!  Look forward to a couple of surprise posts throughout the day. (My apologies for the absence of "Fall Daily Posts" for the past couple of days. Regular posting will presume tomorrow.)

xo,

 Maya