My research into Marie Antoinette led me to find out about her constant need for privacy and a sense of normality in her life. I found more out about this during my research for my story - when she was raised in the Hapsburg Palace she would still play with "normal" children, and be schooled and would have access to gardens and beautiful surroundings. I stuck this in my Sketchbook as this idea of Escapism has captivated me:
The idea of coming from a royal background and extreme luxurious - then wanting to have an escape or a retreat to retire to away from everything - it's so beautiful and reminds me of "Through The Looking Glass"
Trimmings + Textiles
I usually hate adding textiles to any garments i design because i just feel it is so unnesscary especially when i find the most gorgeous material so i avoid it like the plague - HOWEVER - with this project i've opened my mind a lot more to textiles and having spoken to Louise about my initial ideas about what i wanted to portray in my textile element - she has really helped me push those ideas and i can't wait to start sampling them next week.
Heres the rundown of my textiles element:
Above is Grayson Perry - renowned for his gorgeous artwork from afar but as soon as you get close and examine it, it reveals its hidden horrors ( I'll let you research what i mean ).
I want to embroider a part of my story onto the train of my garment(s) - The stories focus is the Libelle's (french pamphlets) ruining Marie Antoinettes image and constantly gossiping about her until her death by guillotine. Some things that were reported on where Lesbian affairs, Affairs in General, Orgies, Louis Impotency, Incest, Theft (Jewel Heist), Austrian Women in french is easily twisted intoOstrich Bitch etc.
These pamhplets began to circulate when the marriage wasnt consummated and rumours of Louis erection problems were the butt of jokes - as her popularity declined they focused more about her until her death - i also want to include the september massacres.
Here are some images...:
Her last words were "Monsieur, I ask your pardon. I did not do it on purpose." For stepping on Sanson's foot ( the executioner ) i wanna embroider this into the train aswell at the bottom to symbolise the last words of Marie Antoinette but i would like to interpret it as a she is saying it for anything she may have done in the past. Louise suggested i could print those pictures onto fabric and make the printed fabrics into roses so the horror is concealed and only partially visible when close - i love this idea but im still not sure whther the images will be seen enough because i dont want it to take away from the shock of the images - i will try this in my next textiles class.
Current Samples
Above are a selection of trimmings along with - Ink print over lace, Quilting which includes a patterned version and a cut out version.
Lace in it's original form and then dyed royal blue - Shearing Elastic in organized rows and randomly to created ruffles and Smocking which i definitly won't be using. I will definitly be using the lace but im not sure i've found the technique i want to use on my garment yet.
Designs
My designs are split into 2 seperate stories of Marie Antoinettes life - The first 10 are from her structured, public, and extravagent life full of partiesand gambling at the palace of versaille - and my 2nd 10 are inspired by the escapism to the country retreat and the petit trianon playing dress-up as milkmaids and shepherdesses with her closest friends and children.
Palace Of Versaille
"Pillow Talk" + "Consummation" + "Glistening Jewel" + "Whalebone" + "Gamble Gala" + "Playful Princess"
Country Retreat
"The Hamlet Shepherdess" + "The Harp" + "Green Pastures" + "Hamlet" + "The Grand Staircase" + "Fragonard Has Swung"
"Court Petit" + "Hidden Admirers"
Musical Sidenote
Heres a few songs that i would consider using as a catwalk for this royal collection - each section ( Palace of versaille + Country Retreat ) would have a different song as well as a transitional song to show the change.
These songs have really inspired me while designing and helped create an image of an overall product in my head.
Hello Demetrius Zambra, my Name is Victoria and I actually have a bit of a peculiar question for you. I am currently working for a small production company, who is making a documentary television show for National Geographic about Marie Antoinette and I am trying to track down images that they want to use in the show. One of those images just happens to be on your page. It is the black and white sketch of the two women kissing from the Libelle's against Marie Antoinette. I have tried to search for this image all over the place, but your site is the only place in which I have come across it. I was wondering if you happen to remember at all where you found the image? If not, what words did you put into a search to find it? Was it in a book possibly? I could really use your help with this and appreciate anything that you can do for me. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Victoria Van Vleet
victoria@edgewest.com