Marie Antoinette, the infamous French queen, is a symbol of finery, femininity and scandalous royalty. She was well known for her passion for fashion; surrounding herself with luxurious things; and especially her love of herself!
Marie Antoinette became the queen of France when her husband, Louis XVI of France, ascended the throne in 1774. She was executed by the guillotine in 1796 when the French monarchy was abolished by the people of France. The French people were so excited to see the pompous queen shivering in fear when she got executed, but instead were disappointed as she was “bold and impudent to the very end”.
This feisty queen loved luxurious clothes and accessories. She had 18 pairs of pastel coloured gloves (scented with violet, hyacinth and carnation), and 4 new pairs of shoes delivered to her once a week. She ordered dozens of extravagant dresses, shoes, perfumed fans, feathers and hair decorations at a time. She never wore any dress twice, and she kept her favourites in her wardrobes- while the others were simply given away to her ladies in waiting. She was an 18th century fashionista, if ever there was one.
Every morning before Marie Antoinette got out of bed, she would be presented with the Gazette des Atours- a huge book filled with fabric swatches from each of her gowns. She would then place a pin in the piece of fabric of the dresses she wanted to wear that day. Her first outfit would be a formal silk or velvet gown for church; followed by a much lighter and less formal cotton dress; and finally a wonderfully elaborate dress to be worn the dinner, concerts or balls.
Marie was also very particular about her beauty regime. At night she slept in gloves lined with wax, rose water and sweet almond oil- and she treated her hair with a wash of saffron, turmeric, sandalwood and rhubarb to emphasize her strawberry blonde hair. Before she applied her makeup, the queen would carefully cleanse her skin and apply a whitener. After her face was plastered white, she was dusted with a scented powder and rouge to her cheeks. Her eyes were lines with kohl, and sticks of pomade (hair oil) scented with rose, carnation or vanilla were used to gloss her lips, eyebrows and eyelashes. She would then place a black velvet beauty patch to the side of her lip or her forehead. Beauty spots, big wigs and pale faces were very on-trend!
Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette in the 2006 Movie
Marie Antoinette’s grand chambers were scented with an abundance of fresh flowers, pot pourri, oils and perfumed sachets. She loved to cover herself with scents of orange blossom water; violet, rose and jonquil scents or even more intricate perfumes made with vanilla, musk, lavender, iris, jasmine, lily, lemon, cinnamon, angelica, cloves and coriander. So one thing is certain- she smelled good!
Most unusual at this time in history, Marie Antoinette bathed regularly. She would sit in a large bath tub filled with sweet almonds, pine nuts, linseed, marshmallow root and lily bulb and she washed herself with muslin pads filled with gentle and exfoliating bran and soaps scented with herbs, amber and bergamot. A royal bath if there ever were one.
Marie Antoinette was a powerful queen in her prime. She was obsessed with her appearance, and smelling beautiful. This royal knew exactly how to get her way and lived an indulgent and grand life… until her people chopped off her head that is!