The 18th century back in Fashion at Versailles

When Marie-Antoinette meets Vivienne Westwood....  Le XVIII au gout du jour is an extravagant exhibition held in the apartments of The Grand Trianon in Versailles, and dedicated to the influence of the 18th century on modern fashion. Fifty models by great designers of the 20th century dialogue with costumes and accessories from the 18th century.

French culture of the 18th century was embodied by Marie-Antoinette, Madame de Pompadour and Madame Du Barry - paragons of frivolity that have always fascinated the movie industry, writers and the fashion world. With its huge powdered wigs, hoop petticoats, corsets, embroidered vests.... This extravagant style has influenced many designers of the 20th century.

Vivienne Westwood brings back brazen courtesans, fashionable Belles are corseted by Azzedine Alaia, Christian Lacroix drapes his queens with brocades lavishly gleaming with gemstones, and Olivier Theyskens summons up the ghost of Marie-Antoinette in a Hollywood film. With Yohji Yamamoto, court dresses are destructured and so does Rei Kawakubo with riding coats. While Thierry Mugler hides oversized hoops under the dresses, Jean Paul Gaultier puts them upside down.


All these pieces come from the archives of maisons de couture and from the Galliera Museum's collections.

Le XVIIIe au gout du jour

Collections Galliera@EPV / J-M Manai, C Milet

Collections Galliera, 1750-1760

@EVP / J-M Manai, C Millet

1750-1755

Collections Galliera @ EVP / J-M Manai, C Millet

1730

1785

Pierre Balmain, Haute couture Summer 1954

Collections Galliera @ EPV / J-M Manai, C Millet

Vivienne Westwood, Pret-a-porter S/S 1991

Collections Galliera @ EPV / J-M Manai, C Milet

Vivienne Westwood, F/W 1995/96

Collection "Vive la Cocotte" @ Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

Vivienne Westwood, S/S 1996

Collection "Les Femmes" @ Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

Thierry Mugler, Haute couture F/W 1997/1998

Collection Maison Thierry Mugler @ Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

Thierry Mugler, F/W 1992, 1993

Collection Maison Thierry Mugler @ Patrice Stable

Jean Paul Gaultier, Haute couture S/S 1998

Collection Maison Jean Paul Gaultier @ Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

Jean Paul Gaultier, Haute Couture S/S 1998

@Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

Maison Christian Dior, Haute couture F/W 2004/2005

Collection Maison Dior @ Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

Maison Christian Dior, Haute couture F/W 2007/2008

@Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, Haute couture S/S 2005

Collection Maison Chanel @ Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere, S/S 2006

Collection Maison Balenciaga @ Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

Rochas by Olivier Theyskens, Marie Antoinette for Sofia Coppola, F/W 2006

Collections Galliera @ EPV / J-M Manai, C Milet

Yohji Yamamoto, S/S 2011

@Marcio Madeira / Zeppelin

All images, courtesy Chateau de Versailles and Galliera Museum

Le XVIIIe au gout du jour - The 18th century back in Fashion is currently on exhibit at the Grand Trianon, Versailles, France.

July 8 - October 9, 2011
This post is also featured in the Huffington Post