Sunday, July 12, 2009

Yay or Nay? Marquesa Isabel Parreno Arce

Last week's initial Yay or Nay was met with much success. The overwhelming consensus was a big "YAY, Woohoo, how fabulous!" But will you like this week's selection?


Anton Raphael Mengs paints the Marquesa de Llano (1773) in her black and white masquerade "maja" gown. Yay or Nay?

23 comments:

  1. YAY!

    Which country was this painting, or the subject from? If it was from 1763, the fashions seem kind of behind. Especially the hat. Is it German?

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  2. Yay--you can't go wrong with black, and white is totally timeless! And a mask is the ultimate fashion accessory!

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  3. Yay - Absolutely. Timeless and elegant. Dare I say - even understated?

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  4. i love the gown but totally hate her hat. it looked like it eating her face

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  5. If not for the pink rose I would vote nay. However, it sets well with the black, so I vote yea.

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  6. Yay! I think the black colour adds a sort of solemn beauty to it. It's a marvellous dress.

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  7. I love this painting. Her metal spangles are wonderful. I'm not a total fan of the snood, but that was the fashion. So if we are to look at her outfit from it's time, it is a definate Yay!

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  8. Yay!!!!!!

    As a masqerade gown, it is absolutely beautiful!!!! However, if I saw it out on the street or at an average ball I'm not sure what my reaction would be!!

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  9. Isabel was the wife of the Spanish ambassador to the court of Parma but, I believe, the dress is heavily influenced by the Spanish masquerade vogue which imitated the dress of the working class. That's why it has that unique open jacket. The hat is also a throwback to past fashions.

    Can you imagine wearing that in the heat of a Parma masquerade? I would melt!

    I love the shoes though!

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  10. Yay - I think the black and white look great together, and I love her jacket. It's also refreshing to see a dress with so many details manage to not look over done. I think I would have picked a different hat myself, but still a lovely outfit.

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  11. I love it!
    I'm a sucker for elegant Black and White.
    Are those castenets at her waist?

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  12. 100% Yay! I love maja style! Last weeks dress would have been in the group that got sent out first - neither top nor bottom, but this weeks dress makes top three.

    Pity the model looks so insufferably pleased with herself :-P

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  13. I like it overall. The virtuosity of the black taffeta is brilliant. I agree with others that the hat is rather 'meh'. It probably wouldn't have been accurate, but I think I would have preferred her hair to be dressed loosely back and down, a nod to peasant style, as with the open jacket, with the mask attached around the head with black ribbon and pushed rakishly up onto the top of her head and askew. Oh well, this is history and not a screen test. Yay.

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  14. Yay Absolutely! She is wo well put together- subtle and elegant:)

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  15. I would say Yay. She has the added benefit of not clashing with her parrot as well.

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  16. Yay, i think, although i'm not too keen on the collar

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  17. Yay! Love the little details; the gloves, hat and most of all the mask.

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  18. I say yay, but someone please ask her to remove that horrible hat! The black and white is a great bold masquerade look and contrasts nicely with the bright colours of her avian friend.

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  19. Love it! It would be great at the black and white ball.

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  20. Yay!
    I love 'maja' style, well I am Spanish :)

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  21. Yay! I love maja style too. Well, I am Spanish :)

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