I watched a documentary series recently called “Versailles,” covering, in three installments, the history of the palace and its monarchs, Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI.
I was really impressed with the production values for this series. They were all shot on location, with French actors portraying each of the historical figures, but most importantly… the costumes were magnifique!
Documentaries are usually on the bottom rung when it comes to funding for costuming, but not this one. I can’t find any information on this production, but it seems to me that whoever the costume designer was must have raided all the best costume houses in England and France.
It’s a good series, and I highly recommend it, although it’s a little depressing (historically accurate depression!). Here are some screen grabs from Episode 3, with a rather pretty Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette:
(lots and lots and lots of images under the cut…)
 |
| This lady has the cuuuutest shoes |
 |
| Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette |
 |
| I liked the actress playing Marie Antoinette. She was quite pretty and, of course, well-dressed. |
 |
| A good view of the back of this wig in the foreground |
 |
| This is on of MA’s gowns I didn’t quite get, with the drapery of her skirt – I guess some sort of polonaise. The yellow gown to her right is lovely, and the one in back too |
 |
| Another view of the gowns from above. |
 |
| Great hats, colors, everything. I appreciate that the documentary accurately portrayed the large changes in fashion through the 1780s. |
 |
| I think she is supposed to be Adelaide – love her wig! |
 |
| One of my faves, and Louis looks superfly too |
 |
| Look at her perfect little shooooes! |
 |
| Ok, maybe this one is my favorite…. |
 |
| A very sharp riding habit seen on MA, 3rd from the left. The pink one on the right is also stunning |
 |
| The only chemise a la reine that appears in the film, and only for a second. It’s gorgeous. It has bows. 🙂 |
 |
| This scene was great – three women laughing maniacally and observing their pretty shoes. The red ones in the background are my faves, and very similar to Pemberley |
 |
| I had to include this shot – a perfect little 1780s shoe with little ribbon trim – looks just like the Pemberlies, with the little heel and all. And how awesome is it that this production even got the shoes for 1780 exactly right! |
Like this:
Like Loading...
24 Comments
Sam Miller
February 25, 2012 at 8:54 PMI am sure most stuff is reproduction. As a little girl visiting France from UK, I was dissapointed by how empty the Palais du Papes was in Avgnon compared to stately homes in UK. My dad pointed out that France lost a lot of historical artifacts, furniture and art in the Revolution and again during WWII.
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:04 AMThat is a very good point, and a very big shame 🙁
Laura
February 25, 2012 at 9:00 PMPerhaps she is wearing a francaise with the fabric tucked in her pockets? I have seen this before somewhere – I think it is called "dans les pouches" or something similar.
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:05 AMIt's hard to tell, but perhaps. It could also be something draped like a mantua, perhaps.
Cassidy
February 25, 2012 at 9:39 PMI'll have to look out for this! Are the costumes for the earlier Louis (Louises? Louix?) equally accurate?
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:06 AMI was not as impressed with the costumes for the second episode on Louis XV, although they were still beautiful. The first episode on Louis XIV had lovely attire, especially wigs. It's also nice that all three Louis' are quite handsome…don't mind watching them 🙂
Julia B.
February 25, 2012 at 9:45 PMThanks for all these wonderful pictures! I love 18th century movie costumes. Have you seen the movie Amadeus? (Those were good costumes too!) 😉
Here is a link for one of those "dans les poches" gowns:
http://www.kci.or.jp/archives/digital_archives/detail_28_e.html
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:06 AMI have indeed seen Amadeus, and I loved especially the colored wigs and candy flavor of it all, especially for such a dark film.
Paulette Kinney/Paper Nosh
February 25, 2012 at 10:58 PMOh my dear ! You have brought such joy to my Saturday afternoon….a peek at this documentary is worth a thousands words ! Thank you !!
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:07 AMyay! mission accomplished 🙂
Clare
February 25, 2012 at 11:17 PMOoh, lovely! Thanks for the pics – I'll have to keep an eye out for this one!
Rowenna
February 26, 2012 at 12:59 AMLovely! You're right–documentaries can often be horrifying in the costuming department–ironically, particularly the main players. Often you notice that the folks in the background are much better outfitted…because film crews often raid local reenactment or costuming groups for extras. It always cracks me up to see a bevy of perfectly costumed extras behind a George Washington or whoever wearing a terribly tailored, half-wrong costume and a fright wig!
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:07 AMThat makes total sense. I think it's great that the production companies use re-enactment groups, though. What a cool opportunity 🙂
Andrew Schroeder
February 26, 2012 at 1:35 AMThe white dress looks like it might be meant to be court dress, although it's obviously not perfectly accurate.
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:08 AMI agree with you – maybe something mantua-y draped?
Olympe de la Tour D'Auvergne
February 26, 2012 at 2:07 AMAs someone who has costumed documentaries I just have to say that it's true that a lot of documentaries are horribly-costumed. This is because they are terribly underfunded in the costume department, and therefore also understaffed, so even if you get the money to do a few reproductions from fabric, you won't have really good tailors to alter them. Often what you end up doing is making accurate undergarments to create the right shape, and borrowing costumes to go over them that may come from places which aren't interested in accuracy so much as style; and because you've borrowed them you can't do anything irreversible. Oh, and the costume department is just you, and maybe two other people.
I once worked on a documentary where the producer and director showed me what they wanted the costumes to look like, and when I pointed out that they weren't accurate for the time or place, was told to "make it work". I'm not permitted to say what organization this was for, but let me just say that you've seen their productions.
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:09 AMuh oh, now I'm going to be guessing all night which productions you are eluding to! I guess that's the film industry, though. I'm so pleased that it's getting better, even if "make it work" still happens – I watched "Braveheart" a few weeks ago and was appalled to see CRUSHED VELVET had been used for one of the gown. Oh it was atrocious!! At least the movies have mostly come away from that…mostly…I hope…
Lucinda Brant
February 26, 2012 at 6:01 AMWhat a wonderful series and what marvelous screen shots! I can't wait for it to come out on DVD (or is it out already?).
Thanks for sharing.
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:10 AMI think the last episode just aired on BBC this past February, and usually they release DVDs but I'm not sure when…
Sandra Brake
February 26, 2012 at 6:10 AMYep I want to buy that DVD. Eye candy of the best kind! Thanks L.
Anonymous
February 26, 2012 at 7:26 AMAlot of these costumes are from the 2006 production of Marie antoinette. Nice to see them again.
grace
Lauren R
February 26, 2012 at 8:10 AMI thought they might be. I loved the costuming from "Marie Antoinette," so no complaints there!
Sandra Brake
February 26, 2012 at 10:49 AMIt's up on YouTube so I am in the middle of watching it now.
Marie Arden
February 26, 2012 at 8:45 PMJust discovered your blog. Wonderful . I will have to watch this series the costumes are wonderful. I see it is on You Tube. Yeah