It’s not every day that one finds oneself swanning into the V&A after hours with a glass of bubbly in hand, the museum’s marble halls bathed in golden light, and a crowd so chic they’d have made the court at Versailles look underdressed. But that was precisely my Wednesday night.
I had the absolute thrill of being invited to the opening soirée of the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition, and let me tell you, it was a decadent feast of silks, satin, scandal, and sequins (the modern kind, worn by the guests, naturellement).
The invitation alone was a confection - a delicate whisper of soft blue and silver embossing that hinted at the opulence to come. Inside, we floated room to room (to room!) through an astonishing chronicle of Marie Antoinette’s life - from Austrian princess to style icon to tragic queen. Each gallery seemed to outdo the last: corsets, court gowns, and even a guillotine blade (yes, the actual blade!)
What If We Called It ‘Marie Antoinette Style’?
The show opens with a bold proposal. What if, instead of calling it Louis XVI style, we gave credit where credit’s due - to the Austrian archduchess-turned-queen who redefined 18th-century fashion in France?
Marie Antoinette arrived in France aged 14, and by her twenties had become its most fashionable (and most scrutinised) queen. The V&A exhibition traces her journey from frilly Rococo teenager to a woman whose tastes grew more daring, streamlined, and, dare I say, modern.
She held no real political power, yet through her patronage of luxury trades - especially fashion and textiles - she shaped tastes that resonated far beyond Versailles.
Never Without a Fan
It turns out Marie Antoinette wasn’t just famous for towering hair and pastel gowns. The woman knew her way around a fan. In the 18th century, fans weren’t just cooling devices or props for flirtation… they were artistic statements.
Made with painted silk gauze, ivory, even gilded foil, French fans were both beautiful and symbolic. One placard reminded us that Marie rarely went without one - not even in winter. They were essential extensions of her style and persona, equal parts accessory and social weapon.
The ‘Gilded Age’ Dress That Floated
For me, the most magical moment came when I turned a corner and spotted THE dress.
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