In the lavish courts of 18th-century France, wigs were not merely accessories but statements of social status and a means of artistic self-expression. Among the many notable figures of the era, one queen stood out for her extravagant coiffures – Marie Antoinette. Join us as we explore the evolution, styling techniques, maintenance, and mesmerising details of the wigs that adorned her royal head. The evolution … Continue reading The Magnificent Wigs of Versailles: Unveiling Marie Antoinette’s Royal Hairdos

Greetings, time-travellers and fans of all things fabulous! Get ready for a delightful journey back to the enchanting days of the Palace of Versailles, where fans were more than just fashionable accessories. They were the secret language of the court, a code of fluttering signals that whispered hidden messages. Join me as we unravel the mysteries of Fan-ology with humour and charm! The fan: your … Continue reading Unveiling the Secrets of Fan Language at Versailles: A Whirlwind Tour of Fan-ology!

When The Sun King Louis XIV moved his court permanently to the magnificent Palace of Versailles, he made a big mistake. When considering how to house his court, he forgot (or, more likely, didn’t consider it important) to build space for the servants. The palace’s apartments were already cosy for the nobles themselves – housing the help was an ongoing issue. Continue reading Servants In The Palace Of Versailles

Daily bathing was not the fashion during Marie Antoinette‘s reign over France. French courtiers of the 18th century were all about sponging down the worst where necessary and saving baths for warm weather and emergencies. In fact, bathing was such a luxury that only wealthy nobles had bathing facilities in their own homes. Everyone else had either a bucket and sponge in front of the … Continue reading Marie Antoinette Shocks Nobles by Taking a Bath

In the heyday of Versailles’ majestic court life, ‘ceremonies’ were an integral part of life. The ceremonies were rituals that took place every day to showcase the royal family’s importance, and the court performed them with earnest sincerity. These ceremonies were for anything, such as the ‘debotter’ ceremony of removing the king’s boots, his waking up and going to bed ceremonies and the ritualistic ‘getting … Continue reading Versailles: The Daily Ceremonies

Probably not. Of all the strange rules and etiquette one had to follow at the Palace of Versailles, the rules about who got to sit where (and when) are perhaps the most bizarre. It was a well known rule that you were not allowed to sit in the presence of the king and queen unless you were a visiting monarch. Everybody else had to conform … Continue reading May I Sit Here?

The fashion for courtiers in France during the years leading up to the Revolution was excess – the more, the better. Higher hair, redder lips and whiter skin could all be achieved through hair and makeup artistry. Let’s have a closer look at how beauty was defined in the 18th century. Makeup Back in 18th-century France, it was the norm for every courtier to rock … Continue reading French Court Hair and Makeup

You might think it’s very strange to wear tight corsets and large hooped skirts every day. How could a woman get anything done if she couldn’t bend at the waist or fit through a doorway? Well, in truth, may women did not. Continue reading Corsets and Panniers

Create a modern-day version of Marie Antoinette’s scandalous hairstyle with this step-by-step tutorial. Continue reading Marie Antoinette Hairstyle Tutorial – How To Coif Like A Queen