Women
Dress
In the high court of Versaille in the late 1700's, there were two dress styles that dominated. The first was the Robe a l'Anglaise. The second was the Robe a l'Francaise. The main difference between the two was simply the back. The Robe a l'Anglaise was fitted, and the Robe a l'Francaise had prominent, loose pleats down the back.
Another common dress style was the Robe a l'Polonaise. This dress was constructed the same as the Robe a l'Anglaise, but worn with the skirts gathered up.
All of these dresses are often referred to as Rococo, in terms of style. All dresses would have had panniers under them. A pannier is essentially the same as a hoop skirt, but specifically refers to a type of hooped undergarment worn in the 18th century that created a wide, exaggerated hip silhouette by using two large, basket-like structures on either side of the wearer.
Where to buy:
Searching for any of these dress terms, and panniers or hoop skirts on Amazon will of course supply results. If you want to spend just a bit more money, and have a much better product, I have had great success with dresses from victorianchoice.com. On Etsy- Mia from the MiniDonuts shop is amazing. If you want to order from her, she said to mention that the dress is for "Elaine's birthday", and she will prioritize getting it done in time for you. Another option is: wonderlandbylilian.com, based in San Francisco. Otherwise, google "Marie Antoinette dress" and a mix bag of options will show up.
Please note, any "Bridgerton" attire is not accurate for this event. Bridgerton is based in the Regency Period, which is about 40 years later than the Rococo period.
I do recommend looking into your dress sooner than later; these items are a bit of a specialty and can take some time to arrive!
Makeup
Makeup was not intended to look natural- in fact, it was called "paint" - to represent one's aristocratic identity artificicially.
Women desired a pale complexion, which symbolized wealth and status. Bright red or pink rouge was applied heavily to the cheeks in circular shapes, mimicking a doll-like effect. Eyelashes were sometimes darkened, but no other cosmetics were used on the eyelids. Eyebrows were darkened. Lips were painted a deep red or pink.
Hair
In 1770, hair became huge and tall. Hair would be styled upon one's head going 1 1/2 times the length of the face. To achieve the height, cushions were used. A cushion would be attached to the top of the head, then the hair was curled, waved, or frizzed, and piled over the cushion. The back of the hair was set in curls. The updo was then decorated with all kinds of things- ribbons, bows, flowers, feathers and so forth.
Women rarely wore whole wigs.Women’s hair was supposed to remain “natural” by avoiding the wholesale artifice of men’s wigs.
Ready to style your hair? Here is a great video tutorial.
Not great with styling hair? Ready to buy a wig instead? Etsy has a tremendous selection of wigs - albeit they are pricey. Unfortunately, just about every women's 18th century wig on Amazon is incredibly inaccurate and bleach blonde in color. As mentioned above, women's hair was natural in color, and DEFINITELY not bleach blonde. While the blonde wigs might work for some of my blonde girls, I was able to find one wig on Amazon that is brunette.
Men
Robe a l'Anglaise
Robe a l'Francaise
Robe a l'Polonaise
Panniers
Robe a l'Polonaise
Attire
Men’s fashion at the High Court of Versailles was defined by the Rococo style, characterized by opulence, intricate detailing, and elaborate ornamentation. The preceding Baroque era, and
the following Victorian era, were far less ornate. Rococo style really celebrates an ostentatious level of ornamentation.
Gentlemen typically wore a three-piece ensemble consisting of:
1) The Justaucorps (Coat)
A long fitted coat typically with elaborate embroidery, lace cuffs, and large decorative buttons. The coat should be worn open to reveal and equally ornate waistcoat.
2) The Waistcoat (Vest)
An essential layering piece, often embellished with embroidery, typically matching color/pattern with the coat.
3) Breeches
Knee length, form-fitting pants fastened at the knee.
Additional Components
Wig
An absolute must to finalize your costume. Only men wore full obvious wigs in the 18th century. As mentioned above, if a woman did wear a wig, she was trying to hide the fact. For men, wearing a wig showed that they had a life of luxury. Nobility would spend upwards of 800 shillings per wig (calculated for inflation - this would be around $10,000 in today's currency)! The term "big wig" stems from this era.Wigs could be white, gray, or natural in hair color.
Stockings & Shoes
Silk or cotton stockings in white are a must. Paired withheeled leather shoes adorned with decorative buckles.
Shirt & Cravat (a precursor to ties)
A white linen or cotton shirt with ruffled sleeves and a cravat.
You could also wear a Jabot (like a lace waterfall), in place of a cravat.
Jewelry and Perfume
A brooch, pocket watch or signet ring can elevate
the look. Perfume was commonly used. Floral or musky scents.
Where to buy:
Unlike a women’s dress, the men’s ensemble may need more piecing together, as you are unlikely to find coat/vest/breeches/shirt/stocking/wig all in one set. Amazon has lots of options for the three-piece ensemble.
Etsy and ebay are your best options if you’re willing to spend a bit more. The main keyword is Rococo.
