Sunday, September 13, 2009

Yay or Nay? Princess Louise Augusta

Last week's selection met with your approval, although I can't help but suspect some of you just liked the man in the clothes more than the clothes! You naughty things. This week we will look to Danish royalty and the progeny of a tart for our fashion critique.


In this dark and sombre portrait, Anton Mengs paints Princess Louise Augusta (1791) in an unique collared muslin gown, complete with a veiled turban and sapphire blue coat. Yay or Nay?

[Rosenborg Castle]

32 comments:

Vic said...

Formidable. Yes. But the outfit ages her and is top heavy. In fashion proportion is everything. One wonders why she would consign her image to posterity in this get up. A resounding No.

Tian said...

Nay! It's unbalanced and uncomfortable to look at.

Elise said...

Oh WOW, this is a great post & you have the most gorgeous site here. I had to stop by to leave this comment for you – and to say hello of course ! Your posts are creative and original and you have interesting pictures. It's all perfect ! Thank you for sharing your site and best wishes....

Paul Miller said...

I'm throwing in another 'NAY', as well. I think Tian's phrase 'unbalanced and uncomfortable' really nails it. Also, she just doesn't seem like gauzy fabric kind of lady. Overall, awful.

Meghan Jordan said...

Yay. Despite the bulkiness, I think it is a very lovely outfit with beautiful colors that match the mood of the painting.

Heather Carroll said...

Thanks Elise, hope to see you around more!

Jessi P AKA Emily Ryder said...

I'm so happy my computer's finally letting me post! This site is amazing - thank you Heather! - and I've been following it for ages. I say 'Nay' to the whole outfit (the turban's slightly excessive) but I love the dress and coat!

Do you know who is depicted in the bust behind her?

Lauren said...

In In In. I would wear it today in the breeze sans head wrap. unless my hair was still wet.

Emma O W said...

Most certainly and without doubt: yea!

Polonaise said...

Hecka nay! The sirens went off and small children scattered. I agree with Vic. Plus, what's with the turban with a train? One wonders what she's keeping in there.

Is the bust her husband?

(Love Elise's peonies--my favorite flower!)

Carley said...

I love her gown and coat (especially the coat..such a beautiful color!). Im not so sure about the turban though....

Overall, I definitely say Yay!!!! :-D

SY:-D said...

Nay. It makes the poor dear look remarkably top heavy.

Syney
www.loveieverything.blogspot.com

Margravine Louisa said...

hmmm...i would say Yay, if only for the absolute daring, and because she is Danish, she is perhaps a cousin of mine?

Fabulastic said...

I use the bath towel the same way in my hair after showering...

NAY!

AlohaAroha said...

Nay. The muslin dress has been done so much better by so many other women.

The artist did a superb job of painting the fabrics though!

Anonymous said...

I also say Nay. The dress is very unflattering to her busty figure, and the coat doesn't do her shape any favors either. She seems a little bit like a fashion victim, not a woman with her own confident style.

Mary

TigerLily said...

it's a bit too plain for me so it's a Nay this time ^o^


http://tigerlilysbook.blogspot.com

tinaM said...

Well, I think the outfit is lovely... but on completely the wrong person! That draping does nothing for her bust (looks like she's hiding a pair of melons there) and the turban definitely needs a bit of a re-wrap. It looks like it is going to fall off at any moment.

Lady Malai said...

Nay! Parts of the dress I like, but I agree. It makes her look top heavy and the turban is just dreadful!

Rea P said...

Yea! I love the attempt at Turquiere - makes her look so long and tall!

Lesley said...

Lol, lots of funny comments! :O)

I LOVE the jacket, the style and colour. Even so, it's a Nay from me as I dislike the headgear and the dress.

Maybe TinaM is right.... it might look 100% better on someone else! :)

Tracey said...

The tuban's got to go!Otherwise it's a YAY!

smalldog said...

The coat is a yes, but the ensemble? Not so much.

Eliza Ward said...

I say yay for sure! Too bad the painting is so dark--it looks like it's just dusty. I wonder if it just has a layer of dirt on it.

Heather Carroll said...

@Jessi- Glad to have you here! I don't actually know who is depicted. I might have to go on a quest to find out. She is definitely gesturing to the bust but Mengs made it blend into the background so it is easy to miss. Which I find unusual.

Comtesse Olympe de la Tour D'Auvergne said...

Nay from me. It looks like she grabbed disparate articles from different outfits and shoved them on in a hurry.

Hélène said...

Nay . . .
Although the outfit seems nice enough on the painting, I can't help but think that it must have looked silly in reality. She looks a little shappy, it's not the way a royal princess should dress!

Tulip said...

Yawn.

Jessi P AKA Emily Ryder said...

@ Heather - Yeah, it is rather odd, isn't it? Almost as though he doesn't want it noticed...but, if that's the case, why is her hand pointing towards it?

I'll certainly be sticking around =)

Iron Chef Kosher! said...

I find the bulk (you should excuse the expression) of the outfit to have just the right amount of casualness (is that even a word?) that the fashion world was striving for (even if it was studied casualness!), but that headpiece has got to go!

adamantixx said...

oooh nay, nay and thrice NAY!!!
very dreary and dull depsite the weird turban effect...and besides, she looks like Boris Becker in drag.

Rebecca said...

You know It's a mourning portrait? the buste of the man in the background represents hjer husband...