How Marie Antoinette Inspired Our Wardrobe
Who doesn’t love a good historical fiction period film? We know we do. To be able to escape for a couple hours into a previous time long ago that’s filled with drama, romance and even a bit of violence all while still learning a thing or two is our kind of movie. Sure the director may fluff or exaggerate some details that we don’t remember reading about in history class, but does that really matter as long as we’re entertained? No of course not! Historical dramas are an opportunity to peek into the past and see how those lived and loved before us, think of shows like The Tudors or Downton Abbey or movies like Elizabeth I & II. We find ourselves leaving the theater or our living rooms filled with dreams of royalty and opulence and we feel for a minute that we know the kings and queens of history. We’re just like you, we wish for that wanderlust and lavish lifestyle too, until, well you know how it goes, “off with your head!” We’re good on that part, but the rest of it, yeah, sure, it’d be nice.
So what can we take with us after watching a period film? We feel like there is endless content for our vision boards after we watch movies like The Other Boleyn Girl or Spartacus. Rich colors, shiny satin and silk fabrics and commanding diamond and ruby accessories seem to be the real stars of these films of the past. For us we find all of these components to be more than decent inspiration for our own personal wardrobes here in the present day and one of our personal favorites has to be Sofia Coppola’s take on the tale of Marie Antoinette.
Yes the story of this French queen has a tragic ending and we actually appreciate the fact that Coppola focused on the innocent youth that Marie Antoinette was. We learn about the nuances that this teen queen’s life revolved around. She loved her dogs, she loved the opera, she loved her friends and she loved to shop. We think that she would be our best girlfriend if she were alive today, right?! No shame in Antoinette’s game. Unfortunately it was to the guillotine for Marie, but not before Coppola addresses that infamous line, “let them eat cake,” as a mere fabrication thanks to French gossip and an accurate (or inaccurate, depending on who you talk to) caricature of the late queen. But, we’re not here to talk about that, this film is very fashion focused with most of the movie emphasizing the spending habits of Marie Antoinette. Yes there is a fabulous montage scene where we see a young Marie and her gal pals choosing lavish fabrics for custom gowns while chowing down on the prettiest, most delectable treats and downing bottles of what we can only imagine is the best French champagne.
After watching this aesthetically pleasing historical drama we found ourselves drawn to clothing that was colorful but soft and accessories that were bold but delicate. Much like the teen queen herself we had the urge to spend some serious dough just to channel our inner queens and duchesses alike. So how did we do that exactly? Well, we’re going to share three pieces that were directly inspired by Marie Antoinette and that have found a new home in our own closet.
We noticed that there were a lot of dramatic shoulder moments throughout this film. We really gravitated to the off-the-shoulder looks that Marie and her ladies in waiting wore during this period of history so naturally we searched high and low for a more appropriate and contemporary version. We found the Snow bunny Off the Shoulder Long Sleeve from Free People and had to buy one in all three shades. This sleeve drops below the neckline and has a dramatic drape of ribbed material across the chest. It's feminine, delicate and dramatic just like our heroine, Marie Antoinette. Every queen needs the perfect shoe to match the perfect gown. Fun fact, there’s actually a little easter egg hidden in the dress shopping montage, a pair of lavender converse is hidden among extravagant heels, a little nod to modern day fashion no doubt from none other than Sofia Coppola herself. On that note, we searched high and low for a shoe to match the outrageous heels featured in the movie. Of course only Jeffrey Campbell could satisfy our pretentiously outrageous needs with the Valenti Embellished Bow Loafer.
A crystal garnish statement bow at the toe of this dramatic shoe complements the studded heel to make a fun, quirky loafer that pairs well with casual jeans, a white tee and a statement jacket to match. This shoe is an excellent addition to our Marie Antoinette-esque wardrobe. Finally, it's hard to ignore the fantastic but excessive hair pieces and accessories featured in the film. We’re talking wigs that two feet tall and taxidermy birds placed in places we would’ve never imagined. For us, we’re not too keen on recreating these exactly looks but we were inspired by the sparkling hair ornaments and found the Tasha Star Hair Clips to be a modern take on this 18th century trend. These tiny crystal stars are simply just so cute and have the right amount of sparkle to make us feel like royalty without the gaudiness. Whether we use them to sweep hair out of our face or clip them flirtatiously throughout our mane, you can’t go wrong with a little twinkle.
xo
SS
SHOP THIS STORY
Images: Pinterest
"Style Sonata prides itself on using or recommending products that we would use ourselves.Within this article there may be affiliate links that when used to make a purchase we may earn a profit. Clicking on these links may redirect you to an outside site.”