Marie Antoinette's

Who wore it first? Marie Antoinette or Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire?? 




Meghan asked me...

"Now that I'm reading Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire after reading Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution there has been a question nagging at me: Who wore the pouf first--Marie-Antoinette or Georgiana?   

In "Georgiana" it says she was the first to wear the "three-foot tower" and the first to wear ostrich feathers, but I thought Antoinette did it first. Or is it that Georgiana was the first to introduce the styles specifically in England? I feel like they can't have independently and simultaneously come up with the idea.
Anyone know?"


Heather and I put our thoughts together on this one for you!

François Hubert Drouais, Marie Rinteau, called Mademoiselle de Verrières. 1761, oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: @MarieGossip

Before Marie Antoinette was Queen, the style of hair for ladies had already started to grow (upwards that is). Here are portraits done in 1761 and 1769 for example. When Marie took the (fashion) wheel in France it was popular for hair to be piled up on the head, with large curls in the back.

Jean Honoré Fragonard, A Woman with a Dog. 1769, oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A Pouf was known as such because of the large variety and number of items it could hold! A big cushion for art! A popular theme of a pouf was aux sentiments because the objects it held were what the wearer liked best. A reflection of the 'poufee' if you will.

These hair styles  had the power to convey very important (and not so important) messages, sometimes even political messages.  The style below was created for Marie Antoinette by Leonard in celebration of the French victory in the bataille d’Ouessant.

Marie Antoinette's Coiffure de l'indépendance ou Le triomphe de la liberté. Franco-American Museum at the Chateau de Blérancourt.

It was these various pouf styles that were being discovered and pioneered by our favorite duo, Antoinette and Georgiana.

Feathers in the hair was an established trend, but an ambassador from France brought Georgiana a big full feather and she took it upon herself to make popular huge ostrich feathers in the late 70's.
English hair was tall and Georgie pioneered the ever-so difficult three tower pouf.

Satirical Print, A hint to the ladies to take care of their heads. 1776, mezzotint. The British Museum.

French hair was tall, but not as tall, however it held innumerable scenes of art and the craftsmanship was incredible.

Phaetona or Modern Female Taste, Published by M. Darly. Nov. 6, 1776, etching and engraving. British Museum.

The image of ladies sitting on the floor of carriages was Georgie's doing, and there is the incredible story of a pouf Antoinette had made for a party, but it had to be taken down so that she could enter the doorway of the soiree! Once she got through the door they had to rebuild it.

Lauren & Heather