Ball gown, House of Paquin, 1895. Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute, New York.
I’m partially regretting starting this advent calendar malarkey as there are just SO MANY gorgeous dresses that deserve to be included but only twenty five days to fit them all in. I shall just have to try my best to pick the most lavishly gorgeous then, won’t I?
Behind today’s window there resides this rather fabulous pink confection by the seriously luxe Parisian House of Paquin, which was based at 3 Rue de la Paix back in the day. I have to admit that I am more than a little bit besotted with this gown – I mean just look at THAT PINK (which almost perfectly matches my blog background!) and also those wonderful poofy sleeves (do they make anyone else think about Anne of Green Gables and her obsession with puffed sleeves – although my fellow redhead Anne would, like me, probably have thought twice about wearing something in such a virulent hue of salmon pink). Also note the pretty candy coloured flowers that snake up the back of the bodice, no doubt hiding the lacing and fastenings from view.
Now THIS is a dress to make an entrance in and then be the cynosure of all eyes for the rest of the evening. It’s a proper ‘my dance card is well and truly FULL now guys’ stonker of a dress designed to make the wearer feel like a proper princess.
******
‘Frothy, light hearted, gorgeous. The perfect summer read.’ Minette, my young adult novel of 17th century posh doom and intrigue is now £2.02 from Amazon UK and $2.99 from Amazon US.
Blood Sisters, my novel of posh doom and iniquity during the French Revolution is just a fiver (offer is UK only sorry!) right now! Just use the clicky box on my blog sidebar to order your copy!
Follow me on Instagram.