The original lover and spokeswoman for breaking fashion norms and choosing to be comfortable may not be who you expect. Considering Marie Anionette was known for ornate and lavishly over-the-top styles, it may be a shocker that she actually started a trend to break away from the pounds of heavy silk women were expected to wear each day. 

As Marie Anionette aged, she realized that she had to craft a new style that the French people would look up to that fit her age. She had a love for the rococo style of the time period she lived in; however, with the gift of the Petit Trianon, the perfect getaway for her and friends to relax on the Versailles grounds, from her husband Louis XVI, she desired a more laid back style for everyday. She also greatly admired Rousseau and liked his idea of simplicity, deciding to implement this into her clothing.

She leaned away from the French silk and began to wear cotton gowns. In 1783, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, a famous French painter, painted Marie in a cotton gown known as a “robe de gaulle.” The dress was airy and flowy with light ruffles. She didn’t pair the look with any jewelry, keeping it simple and pairing it with just a straw hat.  

Some of the French public was horrified by this painting. They could not believe the Queen would wear something that looked like an underdress, or a chemise. This is why the style of dress quickly became called a chemise à la reine, meaning chemise of the Queen.

Despite the hate, there were also women who were willing to follow Marie’s lead in the trend breaking. The dress became the leading style across Europe majorly affecting the silk and cotton industries. The French silk industry severely declined as women began wearing mostly cotton everyday. This shift also meant that style heavily relied on slavery making the population of enslaved people skyrocket in the colonies as the demand for cotton rose. While it is impossible to put the entire blame of the fate of the slave trade on Marie, her popularization of cotton definitely contributed.

Today, Marie Anioniette is often used as inspiration from movies to high-end designers. Marie had a fashion aura that was unmatched by the others of her time period. She wasn’t afraid of being different and branching out to create her own unique style that could be characterized as “cottagecore.” Successfully, she combined extravagant looks with effortlessly comfortable clothing. She was a fashion icon.

Till next Sunday,

Daisy