I was digging through the new Smithsonian Fashion Book, which I have to say has some really lovely pictures in it, and I found something that really threw me for a loop.
On page 144 they have goldish yellow colored Robe á la française. From the front it looks like I think of an anglaise. Wide robings, contrasting stomacher, open front showing a matching petticoat. But it's NOT over panniers. And they show it being worn two ways, one with a train the other polonaised up! I don't think I've ever seen a francaise not over pocket hoops, and I'm darn sure I've never seen one polonaised up. Part of me would think they were mis-informed, but it's the Smithsonian!
I ask because it's REALLY neat and I'd love to make a version someday. Perhaps for next years Francaise dinner weekend breakfast (as it's apparently becoming a weekend).
So great LJ oracle. Tell me. Have YOU seen either of these two things before?
On page 144 they have goldish yellow colored Robe á la française. From the front it looks like I think of an anglaise. Wide robings, contrasting stomacher, open front showing a matching petticoat. But it's NOT over panniers. And they show it being worn two ways, one with a train the other polonaised up! I don't think I've ever seen a francaise not over pocket hoops, and I'm darn sure I've never seen one polonaised up. Part of me would think they were mis-informed, but it's the Smithsonian!
I ask because it's REALLY neat and I'd love to make a version someday. Perhaps for next years Francaise dinner weekend breakfast (as it's apparently becoming a weekend).
So great LJ oracle. Tell me. Have YOU seen either of these two things before?
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Date: 2013-03-01 01:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-01 01:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-01 01:47 am (UTC)But the one in the book as inner ties to pull it up..so weird.
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Date: 2013-03-01 03:39 am (UTC)I also wouldn't take the Smithsonian’s word on styling just because they are the Smithsonian. I've seen multiple styling mistakes in the museum including the original Barbie doll outfit that my Mom also owns that had hat on backwards. And another with the bubble wig on wrong. Mom took the offenses quite personally which amused me but I so see her point that they did look stupid that way...
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Date: 2013-03-01 03:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-01 08:38 am (UTC)And I've seen it once before in an old book.. or maybe a museum pic. Can't remember. But it was a Watteau back that was polonaised up. But it looked like it was more to bunch up the train into a walking length than for fashion. Perhaps their version of a skirt elevator. The dress looked like a wonky sort of hybrid.. but had a stomacher. Mishmash. Maybe it's one of those awkward transitional things, or perhaps women who couldn't afford a new dress trying to mod theirs into a current fashion?
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Date: 2013-03-01 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-01 01:59 pm (UTC)Maybe it's something like that? I always thought the dead giveaway difference between an Anglaise and a Francaise is the latter has the loose-hanging pleats.
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Date: 2013-03-01 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-01 03:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-05 12:12 am (UTC)