Galerie des Modes, 22e Cahier, 1ere Figure

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Infernal Divinity's dress, invented by P. N. Sarrazin, Costumer to TRH Nosseigneurs the Princes Brothers of the King, Director of the Salon of Costumes of the Colisée. (1779)

CHARACTER DRESS.  The symbolic attributes with which it is adorned announce well enough that it is a Fairy's Dress, a Magician's, Medea's.


This costume was worn for the first time, at the time of the Parties given at Isle-Adam, in 1769, by the Prince de Conti.  It has since been adopted by the Theater; it is composed of an exterior bodice with basques, and an interior bodice ending in drapery; the basques and the drapery are cut in bat wings.  The skirt of the Gown, or petticoat, matches the first bodice, trimmed with lightning bolts and checks in embroidery; belt of serpents.  Sleeves of both bodices in mancherons, cut in bat wings, and leaving the lower part of the Arms naked and free.  The manchettes are held in with entwined serpents.  Cape fastened on the shoulder and falling to the ground.

Coiffure in boudins, these are long curls hanging on the shoulders; interlaced with snakes, vipers, and serpents; the boudins are always hairpieces and without powder: the longer they are, the more beautiful they are.  The coiffure in boudins was seen to cost more than fifty Louis: when the hair is longer than an ell, it is beyond expensive.


Comments

  1. AuntieNanJanuary 4, 2013 at 10:41 AM

    I would have LOVED to see what they made those snakes out of!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Die FüchsinJanuary 4, 2013 at 10:59 AM

    This is a wonderful, horrible, eccentric dress!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CassidyJanuary 4, 2013 at 1:33 PM

      Isn't it?! There are a few more books of costumes coming up, with a few that resemble this.

      Delete
  3. heileenJanuary 4, 2013 at 3:11 PM

    WANT ! WANT ! I am SO going to make this dress !!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. heileenJanuary 4, 2013 at 3:15 PM

    oh, and BTW, the last sentence "ils n'ont plus de prix" : it is a french expression, meaning that something is so expensive that you can't give a price to it, it is so much about anything anyone could pay for it. Should have been REALLY expensive, because 50 Louis is a unbelievable high price already !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CassidyJanuary 4, 2013 at 4:37 PM

      Ooh, thanks. That was definitely a place where I knew I wasn't quite right, and this makes a lot more sense. (Speaking of translation, could I email you with a handful of places where my translation is technically correct but doesn't make any sense to me, so I'm pretty sure there's some idiom going on?)

      Half of my goal in doing this project is to spark people to make crazy high-fashion/costume outfits, so I would love it so so much if you did!

      Delete

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