I have recently been in touch with long-time reader and fashion designer Quinne Myers from local apparel brand she & reverie. Quinne's Spring 2014 line has just launched, and her inspirations for it are Marie Antoinette's 18th-century Petit Trianon and its wonderful gardens.
This is so appropriately timed with the new book release, The Gardener of Versailles, which talks about these very gardens, and of course Dior's Spring 2014 make-up collection also inspired by the Petit Trianon!
The capsule collection is called Camp Versailles and is full of sweet made-in-NYC pieces like frothy silk mini tops, cute-yet-luxe kitsch-inspired hoodies, sundress/chemise combos, and perfect puff-sleeve lounge dresses.
I had the chance to ask Quinne about her inspirations and why she loves the 18th century:
QM: I've been inspired by the aesthetic ideals of 18th century France for as long as I've been designing clothes. The name "she and reverie" even comes from one of Jean-Honore Fragonard's 1770s-era paintings at the Frick Collection, my favorite place here in NYC. His painting "Reverie" depicts a girl in a pale pink dress lounging dreamily against a pillar in a garden, and represents our design aesthetic perfectly.
Since she and reverie's conception, I've been driven to create clothes that an 18th century royal maiden might wear if she lived today: sweetly-detailed garments in fine fabrics and candy-sweet colors that are carelessly easy to wear and subtly provocative. Marie Antoinette was clearly a dreamer-girl searching for an escape in the world of aesthetics, just like our customers.
The gardens of the Petit Trianon were my favorite part of my visit to Versailles. Despite being an immense display of wealth, the architects created something that felt light, airy, provincial, and almost effortless. As someone who grew up in a relatively rural setting, the idea of a manufactured "natural" garden is fascinating and a little creepy, but they pulled it off perfectly. Those carefully-crafted gardens are exactly how I romanticize the French countryside: bright, breezy, clean and full of flowers.
So when I started designing the garments for this new capsule collection, I couldn't help but imagine what I'd want to wear while lounging under the trees of the Queen's Hamlet: airy silks and soft knit dresses that are dressy and sweet, yet easy to wear and so comfortable. Combining that feeling with kitschy details like branded Girl Scout-style merit badges and our kitschy Polaroid print using photos taken all over the world (including at Petit Trianon!) led to the final Camp Versailles collection.
Camp Versailles
Lounging in tall grass and gathering wildflowers.
Dancing to your favorite songs under a pink setting sun.
Staying up all night counting constellations in gossamer tents.
Staying up all night counting constellations in gossamer tents.
Welcome to Camp Versailles,
inspired by classic Girl Scout kitsch and the luxurious languor & grown-up opulence of 18th century France.
And now for the fashion! Here are some of my favorite pieces from the collection. I love the hooded cardigans (over-sized hoods are my fav, and it is pink!), the summer holiday skirt and all the colors. Everything looks soft, comfortable and just lovely. This is only a few items, so check out the site to see all the styles and colors. Enjoy and be sure to enter the giveaway below.
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| Sleepover Hooded Cardigan in Earl Grey Creme featuring Camp Versailles Sew-on Badges |
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| Summer Holiday Skirt |
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| Summer Holiday Skirt |
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| Meringue Babydoll Dress in chiffon rose |
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| Meringue Babydoll Dress in Earl Grey Creme |
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| Sixties Sun Tops |
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| Sleepover Hooded Cardigan in mascara grey |
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| Sleepover Hooded Cardigan over Meringue Babydoll Dress in Earl Grey Creme One lucky winner will receive a set of
$50 she and reverie gift certificate
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| "A set of grown-up embroidered Girl Scout merit badges, exclusive to the Camp Versailles collection-- the same set as featured on our Sleepover Hooded Cardigan. Features a few of our favorite things in candy-sweet colors: White swans, pink roses, the Chrysler building, cruiser bikes, and the moon.
Sew them on anything with a needle and thread, or just use a little glue.
 Patches are 2.5" wide each and come on a printed card. Exclusive to she and reverie." |
I am very excited to host a giveaway from this collection for readers here!
Enter to win a
AND
$50 she and reverie gift certificate
How to Enter:
For this giveaway I am using the giveaway widget below. It allows extra entries which is pretty cool (and keeps everything organized pour moi!)Simply enter by email or your Facebook account.
Once you have entered there are seven options for extra entries you will be presented with (comment on this post, tweet, share, follow... the usual! Just pick and choose any you want). The giveaway widget will track how many times you have entered.
The giveaway starts now and ends March 14. I will post the winner on Monday March 17.
Thanks for reading, and good luck!
~Lauren
And the winner is....
Rebekah L. Congratulations!!
Thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway! And special thanks to she and reverie for the wonderful prizes.
~Lauren
Thanks for having this giveaway! I think my favorite item is the Trianon Gardens Dress - I just can't decide what color I like best!
ReplyDeleteI love the Meringue Babydoll Dress in Earl Grey Creme! It looks so lovely and comfortable.
ReplyDeleteSarah
I'll always love Quinne's pink cardigan and Polaroid skirt!
ReplyDeletexo
Kristina
kuriegasreyes@gmail.com
TweeValleyHigh.com
Picking a favorite is hard, but I'm feeling the Polaroid skirt right now!
ReplyDeleteI really love the Venice Cardigan in Atlantic Grey!
ReplyDeleteI love the Summer Holiday skirt and the candy colored slip dresses, they're all so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI love the sleepover hoodie. I would love to have it in my wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteI love the babydoll dress in earl grey creme, plus so much more!
ReplyDeleteLaura
I love the cream dress with the bronze ribbon! So cute :)
ReplyDeleteNatalie
Trianon Gardens Dress in spring ivy
ReplyDeleteI love the sun slips!
ReplyDeleteI really want to win and receive this!
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely in love with the summer holiday skirt.
ReplyDeleteThe Summer Holiday Skirt is my absolute favorite. It's unique and magical looking. I would be so happy to dance around downtown in this skirt while thrifting and taking photos. Sounds like the perfect day. :) --Bethany Swoveland
ReplyDeleteI really love the Trianon Gardens Dress in earl grey creme
ReplyDeleteI love the summer holiday skirt and badges. <3
ReplyDeleteI love the summer holiday skirt and badges. <3
ReplyDeletemy absolute favorite is the sleepover hooded cardigan, it's perfect for looking super cute and comfy while lounging.
ReplyDeleteThose badges are sooo dreamy! *o* They're definitely going on my spring wish list. <3
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I can actually pick an official favorite since everythihg is so pretty, but I do love the sleepover hooded cardigan in earl grey creme!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is the Sleepover Hooded Cardigan in Earl Grey Creme! I am obsessed with the badges! ♡
ReplyDeleteMy favorite? Sixties Sun Top in velvet black, is cute and sexy ☻
ReplyDeleteNadia Avila
My favourite items from the collection is the babydoll dress and I fell in love with the swan and bicycle badges <3
ReplyDeleteLove! I have known Quinne for a while and I am so happy for her :) Her work is great.
ReplyDeleteI'm absolutely obsessed with the sew-on patches! I'd be over-the-moon if I won them!
ReplyDelete