Elisabeth Vigée LeBrun paints Madame d'Aguesseau de Fresnes (1789) in her Turkish Harem garb, complete with red velvet, huge pearl drop earrings, and gold accents. Yay or Nay?
[Metropolitan Museum of Art]
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Yay or Nay? Madame d'Aguesseau de Fresnes
Last week, Maria Francisca Bendita came out alive with her heavily embroidered creation, and she was met with a Yay, although a very cautious. Heidilea had me laughing with her comment that fashion goes to die in Spain, which I find fairly accurate in terms of the 18th century. But let us now journey to a place where fashion lives and continue our judgments there.
Elisabeth Vigée LeBrun paints Madame d'Aguesseau de Fresnes (1789) in her Turkish Harem garb, complete with red velvet, huge pearl drop earrings, and gold accents. Yay or Nay?
Elisabeth Vigée LeBrun paints Madame d'Aguesseau de Fresnes (1789) in her Turkish Harem garb, complete with red velvet, huge pearl drop earrings, and gold accents. Yay or Nay?
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Yay! She looks very stylish, but not in a conventional way.
ReplyDeleteYay! Like this a lot - the turban sets off her hair (which is lovely) and the couch she's sitting on doesn't clash.
ReplyDeleteyay!
ReplyDeletea simple-looking and fetching outfit...the turban also gives her somewhere handy to keep her sandwiches.
Not all of the fashion has to come from Paris, as Madame d'Aguesseua de Fresnes proves. Is she a trendsetter or is she just changing her wardrobe for more exotic gowns? I say Yay.
ReplyDeleteyay! wish that outfit was mine.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm lacking fashion sense since I fail to appreciate this outfit like those who've already commented. I find the turban awkward and floppy on her head although I can't say I'm a fan of turbans in general! I don't like the dress either, sorry. I do like the way the artist captured her face but I have to say nay :(
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a Yay! I love the entire outfit.
ReplyDeleteI *like* the outfit, don't love it. Maybe if she was standing so I could get a better sense of it overall. But I have to say, and please don't shoot me, that turban makes her look like a washer woman to me.
ReplyDeleteSorry.
Then again, I'm not a fan of turbans either.
She has a charming face though and the artist did a wonderful job with his depiction.
ah, where to start? with those details i love or with those i want to have myself?
ReplyDeletelove the velvet, the hat, the belt and the pattern of the white skirt. even the pillow would do so very well on my sofa!
but i'd be a little scared of the earings... so heavy they must have been...
YAY!!!
Yay for sure. There is nothing not to like and so much to covet! I particularly like the braid around the turban--just right.
ReplyDeleteNay. She looks very 'costume-y' and rather self conscious of it too. And the turban is awkward and out of proportion and just flat out improbable.
ReplyDeleteYay! I like the turban, but I think she probably looks more comfortable and lounge-y than she is.
ReplyDeleteYay.The dress is lovely, But the Turban just doesnt do it for me. I would rather see a complementry hat of some sort. But whatever works for her.
ReplyDeleteHUGE yay!!!
ReplyDeleteyay!!! I don't need to defend myself! Her wearing that turban is equivalent of me wearing my Greek sandals.
ReplyDeleteYay! She looks lovely! I do not like turbans but she looks very stylish in hers.
ReplyDeleteDefinite Yay!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a Yay!
ReplyDeleteThis is a definite yay. Love the colours!
ReplyDeleteYay! I love the touches of gold (and how lightly they've been handled) and the dark red accents give it an elegant, and more mature look. Oriental inspired outfits generally look like something between a costume ball and grown up's dress-up clothes, but hers is more subdued and simple, and so comes off like something someone would have actually worn. Plus, I love her hair!
ReplyDeleteOh my! I'm glad I made you laugh (as it is very true about the Spanish!) But, I must give credit where it is due, Livejournal user TattyCat first made that comment to me, and others. I was wondering why so many people were friending me recently!
ReplyDeleteAny way, today's lady is a big, huge, unadulterated YAY! She fits in very well with the French high scene of 1789 in her Turquerie, and it's the right mix of structure and deshabille. The gown utilizes a very beautiful fabric, and the overgown is a perfect shade to go with it. Many don't dig the turban, but it goes great with big hair...especially if one has just rolled out of bed and not had time to have it done properly. And don't forget the pearls!
Yay, yay, yay!
Oh! Look at Tom and Lorenzo's blog entry on the new (and last) Alexander McQueen collection!
ReplyDeletehttp://tomandlorenzo2.blogspot.com/2010/03/alexander-mcqueen-fall-2010-collection.html
there is some 18th century inspiration going on here. Esp. look at the dark coat with gold brocade and compare to the painting of the Princess of Brazil that you had up a few weeks ago.
Thank you for posting that. I love that blog but somehow missed this. What an amazing collection! I love all the Northern Renaissance paintings he used too!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet face and costume. Too bad about the turban though. It looks way too big and I can't picture her moving around without her head wobbling. But a big Yay for the rest.
ReplyDeleteStrong yay. She looks totally put together but also very comfortable, with herself and her clothes.
ReplyDeleteI love this one. A definite 'yay'. The little jacket looks purple to me, which I prefer to red in this instance. The hat looks a bit like a creative use of unattended laundry, but I still like it. The spangles on the dress are right on and I find her face very peaceful and lovely. Also love the turquoise pillow. Yay, yay, yay.
ReplyDeleteYAy, I simply love this like the early empire style too but the stuff that came later wasn't nearly as good
ReplyDeleteYay! I think I'd wear that even with a turban. What outfit is complete without a hat, after all?
ReplyDelete