Sunday, August 2, 2009

Yay or Nay? Maria Amalia Duchess of Parma

Another miss last week with the feathered frock that the Duchess of Saltykova sported. I thought it would pass the judging but our panel is made up of a bunch of Michael Korses! Hopefully this week's selection will not be a runway bore.


Alexander Roslin paints Maria Amalia in her blue polka-dotted, spangled gown. Yay or Nay?

27 comments:

  1. Another Yay from me!!! Quite a beautiful gown!!

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  2. I love it except for the duct tape in her hair. so...we'll say YAY.

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  3. Lol, see this is becoming a tough judging panel! :)

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  4. I'm on the fence but I lean towards a Yay. I think it was probably better looking in real life. It's a bit chocolate box on the one hand and a bit frumpy on the other. I'd losse the tulle or whatever on the sleeves. Then it would be a two thumbs up.

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  5. One of my favoruite artists from the 18th century and this beautiful dress. Ofcourse it's a yay!
    By the way, isn't Maria Amalia the sister of Marie Antoinette? If so, I actually think that Maria Amalia looks (at least in this paiting) cuter than her little sister, who was famed for her beauty.

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  6. I agree with Jenny, the dress is fabulous, the hair...not so much.

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  7. I'm going a Yay! I actually quite like this gown!

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  8. One huge YAAAY for me! -with or without the duct tape.

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  9. YAY and though I agree about the strangely placed duct tape perhaps this was the only tool available in the 18th C. to check unruly hair.

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  10. Yes, Lady Augusta, she was one of Maria Theresa's brood. Fashion ran in the family I think!

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  11. I vote Yay, the dots are charming and the colors are calm in contrast to the almost too-fussy nature of the ensemble, providing a nice balance.

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  12. I would say Yay, it's a beautiful dress.

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  13. A big yay from me. And I will risk censure and declare I quite like the hair. (But then, I liked the leopard hat, too, so what do I know?)

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  14. Yay. I like the whole look.

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  15. Lol, I like her hair and the leopard hat too Polonaise. We are a tacky bunch!

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  16. Isn't it amazing how dotty material never goes out of fashion! I like it. I also love your blog. :) Another Yay!

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  17. Yay Absolutely! The gown is superb with just the right amount of sparkle- love the fan too.

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  18. Yay! I love the polka dots, and spangles are always good, and the tulle sleeves are super cute.

    I would really love if you would give a date for these images, and what collection they come from.

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  19. Sorry, I have to say nay. I find the colors too dark and bland, there's too much going on with all the ruffles and gauze everywhere, and the dots don't do anything for the material's texture.

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  20. it's a bit over the top for me. Peu un trop... but alright! the polka dots are.. inventive, I suppose. But I'm not so crazy for the gauzy things on her arms. They are all wrong. And her hair is hideous; I don't care if that was the style.
    The dress is fairly low-cut, isn't it? Is that appropriate for a formal portrait?
    And it looks like there are dead flower things etched into her dress, a little below the left arm and on the far edges of the fabric. Why? Not too sure about those, either.

    But overall, it's a yayy!

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  21. HAHA Leah! I thought you were going to say Nay after that.

    Yes polka dots are always in if you ask me!

    @Aloha, I don't have a date for this particular one (curses!) but I've been including them for the others. I'll try to remember to include the collections now. Thanks for the suggestion!

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  22. I'm with Stephanie about losing the tulle on the sleeves. It vies for too much attention, stealing focus from the spangled polka dot on the primary body of the dress, which IS charming and stands well enough on its own. Also, lose the duct tape and ALL of the hair adornments and try big, delicious ear bobs with sparkly sapphires.

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  23. Not too hip on the drab colors but overall a Yay!

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  24. Yay from me, both dress and hairstyle.

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  25. YAY for polkadots! Polkadots can make up for everything. Did I say YAY?

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  26. Hey, Heather, did you get my email with the awesome photo shopping I did on Maria's dress and hair-do? I think it proves my suggestions right...

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  27. Only one possible way to go... YAY! I love the color and love both spangles and polka dots.

    I kinda want this dress myself.

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