Gothic Lolita Punk blog La Carmina
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FRIVOLOUS ROCOCO COURT FASHION: COSTUME HISTORY BOOK, MARIE ANTOINETTE WIG.

Ancien regime and empire costumes, fashion history clothing book, revolution dresses, versailles court garments.

Aie, how irresponsible of me. Last month, I found a delightful fashion history tome in the library reference room. I took some snapshots, but neglected to write down the title… perhaps one of you might recognize the source? Even if not, keep the book comments coming and you can win Gothic garb from Evil Kitty.

Costume illustrations of rococo court fashion, french revolution aristocracy dresses, panniers and long frilled gowns.

This nameless encyclopedia covers court garments from King Tut to the Tudors and beyond. Naturally, I gravitated to the gigantic caricatures of Rococo frivolity. They remind us that the panniered ladies of Versailles were laughing at themselves; “Rococo included, almost from its inception, elements of irony and self-criticism.” (Revolution in Fashion: 1715-1815)

Rococo sailboat on head, Marie Antoinette wig and hat, crazy boat hair accessory.

Marie Antoinette would be delighted with today’s Fruits and Kera street fashion. She’d build a “Little Harajuku” outside Versailles (complete with a reproduction of the infamous bridge); she’d import Goth Lolis, yamambas, and decoras; and she’d blow them all out of the water with her billowing sailboat hairdo.

British Victorian fops and dandies, top hats and capes, waistcoats 19th century male fashion.

Finally, here are some dashing Victorian dandies in Count Dracula capes, top hats, and buttoned waistcoats. I leave you with a wistful quote from Revolution in Fashion: “It was a time when people relished a certain joie de vivre, engaged in witty conversation, and danced graceful minuets.” Le sigh!

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am and is filed under Art + Design, Books + Magazines, Fashion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.


  • Ann

    Another novel that caught my attention was by the wonderful Laurel K Hamilton. The novel was a part of her Anita Blake series and was titled “Obsidian Butterfly”. The entire story emphasizes each of the characters personalities interacting with one another, which gives the reader a more in touch and comfortable feeling about the novel. I would definitely recommend this book. Not to mention, it has vampires, what more could you ask for?

  • http://lacarmina.com wendy

    How wonderful. What a concept witty conversation. Fun hair!

  • http://lacarmina.com Cassy

    I've got a book for you:

    These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

    It's part mystery, part love story, and it's set in the Georgian era. The authors descriptions of both the men's and women's fashions are so detailed! And you just have to love the spit-fiery heroine, and the flamboyant (anti?)hero.

  • http://lacarmina.com Cassy

    Oops, forgot to add my kudos! XD

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    Sounds fab!

  • Ann

    Another novel that caught my attention was by the wonderful Laurel K Hamilton. The novel was a part of her Anita Blake series and was titled “Obsidian Butterfly”. The entire story emphasizes each of the characters personalities interacting with one another, which gives the reader a more in touch and comfortable feeling about the novel. I would definitely recommend this book. Not to mention, it has vampires, what more could you ask for?

  • http://lacarmina.com wendy

    How wonderful. What a concept witty conversation. Fun hair!

  • http://lacarmina.com Cassy

    I’ve got a book for you:

    These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

    It’s part mystery, part love story, and it’s set in the Georgian era. The authors descriptions of both the men’s and women’s fashions are so detailed! And you just have to love the spit-fiery heroine, and the flamboyant (anti?)hero.

    • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

      Sounds fab!

  • http://lacarmina.com Cassy

    Oops, forgot to add my kudos! XD

  • http://www.myspace.com/demonic_vampyre LiTtLe_MiSs_PsYcHo

    wow! the clothes from the 1715-1815 look so goroguse! I never really realized that!

    but anywayz, another book that is very preciouse to me is Dont Kiss them Goodbye by Alison Dubois. If you ever heard of a show called Medium, then you should know that that show was inspired by her works.
    This book is very preciouse to me because not only she talks about her life, she also tries to somehow deliver a messenge. (well thats my point of view atleast XD)

  • http://www.myspace.com/demonic_vampyre LiTtLe_MiSs_PsYcHo

    wow! the clothes from the 1715-1815 look so goroguse! I never really realized that!

    but anywayz, another book that is very preciouse to me is Dont Kiss them Goodbye by Alison Dubois. If you ever heard of a show called Medium, then you should know that that show was inspired by her works.
    This book is very preciouse to me because not only she talks about her life, she also tries to somehow deliver a messenge. (well thats my point of view atleast XD)

  • http://kagitsune.deviantart.com kagitsune

    Really, why *aren't* there boat-shaped hats in Lolita fashion yet? I want to make that my next big project… xD

    Now, are the illustrations “tossed” like that in the book, or are those pieces of paper separate from the book itself? :/

  • http://kagitsune.deviantart.com kagitsune

    Really, why *aren’t* there boat-shaped hats in Lolita fashion yet? I want to make that my next big project… xD

    Now, are the illustrations “tossed” like that in the book, or are those pieces of paper separate from the book itself? :/

  • http://lacarmina.com Hal

    The illustrations from your blog look as though the might be from “La Mode Illustree Fashion Plates in Full Color” by by JoAnne Olian or “The Complete Costume History” by Francoise Tetart-Vittu.

    Best wishes,
    Hal R.
    Kane

  • http://lacarmina.com Hal

    The illustrations from your blog look as though the might be from “La Mode Illustree Fashion Plates in Full Color” by by JoAnne Olian or “The Complete Costume History” by Francoise Tetart-Vittu.

    Best wishes,
    Hal R.
    Kane

  • kyoko

    “The Horse and His Boy” by C. S. Lewis

    The third book in the Narnia series, it's almost as ignored as the first one. You'll notice that they skipped it in the movies: straight to Prince Caspian after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. However ignored it may currently be, it's probably my favorite out of the beloved series. It's the tale of a daring young boy, Shasta, who sets out for Narnia with his companion, the horse Bree, after learning he was to be sold as a slave.

    It is, of course, beautifully written; while it may not be a very intricate plot (it is a book meant for children, after all), the characters have very complex personalities, and I've became fond of them after a short time reading it as a child. The conversations between characters are what I love the best, especially when Aravis, a girl they meet shortly after starting on their journey, relates to them the tale of her escape from an arranged marriage. I would have to say anyone who hasn't read the Narnia series is seriously missing out on a wonderful and detailed story.

  • Anonymous

    “The Horse and His Boy” by C. S. Lewis

    The third book in the Narnia series, it’s almost as ignored as the first one. You’ll notice that they skipped it in the movies: straight to Prince Caspian after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. However ignored it may currently be, it’s probably my favorite out of the beloved series. It’s the tale of a daring young boy, Shasta, who sets out for Narnia with his companion, the horse Bree, after learning he was to be sold as a slave.

    It is, of course, beautifully written; while it may not be a very intricate plot (it is a book meant for children, after all), the characters have very complex personalities, and I’ve became fond of them after a short time reading it as a child. The conversations between characters are what I love the best, especially when Aravis, a girl they meet shortly after starting on their journey, relates to them the tale of her escape from an arranged marriage. I would have to say anyone who hasn’t read the Narnia series is seriously missing out on a wonderful and detailed story.

    • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

      Some of my friends tell me the Narnia series is loaded with relgious and symbolic complexity… to the extent that it can be better described as a scholastic text than a kid’s book!

  • http://lacarmina.com The Countess of Beaumont

    What a visual feast!! I do yearn for those times of exploration, eccentricity and unashamed opulence x

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    You and me both. :)

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    Some of my friends tell me the Narnia series is loaded with relgious and symbolic complexity… to the extent that it can be better described as a scholastic text than a kid's book!

  • http://lacarmina.com The Countess of Beaumont

    What a visual feast!! I do yearn for those times of exploration, eccentricity and unashamed opulence x

    • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

      You and me both. :)

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