Creation of Rose Bertin

Queen of Fahion

Marie Antoinette

The dauphine, Marie Antoinette was the Queen of Fashion. But then who was the brain and talent behind Antoinette's fashionable closet? It is none other than the remarkable Rose Bertin. Born on 2nd July 1747 in Picardy, France, Marie-Jeanne Rose Bertin was the first even celebrated French fashion designer. Her explicit talent had named Marie Antoinette the most fashionable of queens and she was the one who brought Haute Couture to be a popular style up til today.

Minister of Fashion

Rose Bertin.

Earning the title of "Minister of Fashion", Marie Antoinette's marchandes de modes and a stylist, Rose Bertin is my muse in this post as her creativity continues to inspire me.
Bertin had influenced fashion greatly starting in the 18th century, through creating new trends as the Formal Court Dress, poufy hairdos and more. 

Pouf aux insurgent

Pouf hairstyles

With headdress

The most notable of her works was the pouf. These were high hairdos that were always heavily ornamented with ribbons, artificial flowers and others. For Marie Antoinette, Bertin constructed a 3 foot high pouf with jewels and all the finer things. Just imagine how heavy it'd be! Examples of poufs showcassed in events by the dauphine were the 'pouf aux insurgents' -which had a mini French naval vessel planted at the top-, 'pouf a la circonstance- for the change of reign-, and also the famous 'pouf a l' inoculation' which depicted a garden to celebrate the King's vaccination.

Marie Antoinette's gown

By Rose Bertin

Marie Antoinette's gown

By Rose Bertin

As fancy and outrageous those hairdos were, the gowns Bertin designed were incomparable! Even Lady Gaga might think twice in wearing them. The gowns were so huge and poufy til ladies could not even enter the door without having to squeeze through or enter sideways. As detailed and beautiful those gowns were, I would not want to wear one if I have to suffer! Especially with how heavy the gowns would be..

Pandore

Other than those fancy dresses and hairstyles, another notable creation of Bertin's was Pandores. They were dolls dressed in the latest trends, passed through countries as a fashion update. Afterall, there weren't fashion magazines back then!

Just how did Bertin came up with such creativity? It's rather hard to tell. But through meetings with Marie Antoinette, they worked on trends and styles that the Queen herself likes and what would appeal to the court. Once the dresses were designed and Bertin sold it in her shop, womens who coveted the Queen would purchase them and dress up like Antoinette in the Versailles. 

By Anton Hohenstein

Then, when the dauphine sees them like her, she would crave for bigger and fancier gowns. And just like that, it goes on.
 And I've been thinking, wouldn't Bertin finish up all her ideas? But then, I came across a quote of hers which she had remarked to the Queen, "There is nothing new except what has been forgotten."
I personally find this to be very clever and valuable. Taking a look in today's fashion, I truly understand what she meant by that, for the creation of new trends rests on past fashion. Fashion that we have forgotten or not, revived with new additions to it. And with that, fashion is a cycle.

Christian Lacroix

1995

Inspired by 18th Century

Marie Antoinette's gowns

For further reads on the fashionable times of Marie Antoinette and Rose Bertin, below are recommended books that details on the dressings in the French Court.