French Blue Gown

Movie: Marie Antoinette
Year: 2006

Worn in the scene where the young archduchess is transferred to French soil and as such is dressed in new clothes in the French style (markedly different from the more simple Austrian style).

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Pink Bow Dress

This is one of Kirsten Dunst's dresses in Marie Antoinette and is worn in a dinner scene as well as a church scene. The dress is a robe à la Francaise due to the pleadings descending from the back's neckline. Mainly blue silk has been used for this costume except for the three pink bows attached to the bodice as well as the white pleaded fabric peeping up at the neckline and the sleeves. Also, a paler shade of blue has been chosen for the piece on the bodice where the bows are sewn onto - notice that a brooch is attached to the upper bow. This strip of paler blue is edged with pleaded ribbons in a slightly darker blue than the rest of the outfit. The petticoat is without any particular decoration and continues the blue colour as the sleeves and the main part of the bodice.

A Peculiar Choice

Norma Shearer wears this unusual gown in "Marie Antoinette" from 1938. This is a very unique design for any dress used in a Marie Antoinette movie of what I have seen.
The base's colour is cream and seems to be either velvet or cotton. Large twirling patterns adorns the skirt in black and turquoise edged by burned beige. Notice that the skirt is slightly shorter at the front which has probably been done to make it easier for Norma Shearer to walk in the dress. The turquoise cut-outs brings focus to the centre of the bodice which underlines the slim waistline. The neckline is edged with black velvet and the black pattern is continued in a single row a few centimetres beneath the neckline's cut - a pretty bow brings a focus point to the centre again.

The sleeves also have the peculiar pattern and the mandatory layers of lace in a dark cream.

Peacock Princess

Joely Richardson portrays Marie Antoinette in "The Affair of the Necklace" from 2001 and wears this gown on one of the movie posters.
Champagne coloured satin makes out the main fabric and is only interrupted by the pattern on the bodice. The emerald green is used to shape a peacock on each side of the bodice - quite an interesting detail which is not seen that often. Another dominating material is lace which has not only been applied generously to the sleeves but also makes the neckline very different from most other movies about the French court. It would almost seem that the lace is cut into leave-shaped pieces and then sewn onto the chosen parts of the dress. Also, it looks as if tulle has been used to enforce the lace and perhaps add more volume. The split between the two folds of the bodice reveals a slightly embroidered piece with golden birds. Also a brooch has been pinned to the neckline's lace and if you look closely a drop-pearl can just be made out among all the satin.

Marie's Strawberry Gown

Worn in both a dinner scene and a church scene by Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette.
I have given this post its' name due to the lovely, small strawberries that makes out the motif on the white main fabric - notice that their leaves are blue! This blue colour is also used for the pleaded ribbons that adorns the edge of the neckline, the hem of the bodice's front "flaps" and all the way down the skirt itself. Her velvet neck ribbon is a slightly darker tone but goes just fine with the overall colour tones. And her prayer book happens to be baby blue as well. Coincidence? I think not.

The sharp red gloves seems like an odd contrast at first sight by when you look closer it is really just a more "pang" version of the strawberries' colour. Notice that the gloves does not cover the fingers but only the palm - and they are lined with blue satin as well. White lace has not only been used at the sleeves (which is as good as standard) but is also accompanying the pleaded, blue ribbon and gives the neckline a more ruffled look. I love how the white pearls in her hands goes perfectly with everything else in this feminine outfit.
The second  photo reveals even more details than the first. First of all the gloves are embroidered with blue (surprise) flowers edged with silver thread. Secondly, a round diamond is attached to the very top of the bodice on the left side.

Coronation Gown

Another one of Kirsten Dunst's gowns from Marie Antoinette (2006) - there were over 60 so prepare for many more.
The dress itself is sewn in white satin which has been used for both the bodice, the sleeves, the petticoat and the skirt. The sleeves ends in champagne coloured tulle pinned with a large bow on each arm - of course the gloves are of white satin too. If you look closely at the bows you will see that they are made of striped fabric and not just plan coloured satin. The bodice is elaborately decorated with a flowery motif consisting of golden paliettes. The edge of the bodice and the neckline has been trimmed with the same champagne tulle as the sleeves. This decoration has been applied to the skirt as well and all the way down the golden flowers glitters only interrupted by the large bows - all edged with tulle.

Marie's Muslin Style Dress

Diane Kryger wears this muslin gown in "Farewell my Queen". The dress is supposed to be one of Marie's simple muslin dresses that she used to wear at Petit Trianon. This one is different though. The fabric is heavier than muslin and not as transparent. It looks more like silk embroidered with flowery motifs. The sleeves are cut in the same way as the original dresses the ribbon is just a little higher up the arm than usually. The sash is a warm orange which is very unlike Marie's style (I do not remember any portrait of her with anything orange in it). The bodice is pleaded and tied with the same sort of ribbon that has been used for the arm.

Green Velvet for the Queen

Gown worn by Norma Shearer as Marie Antoinette in the 1938-edition. Happily, many of the dresses used in this movie are still to be found which means that we can see the dresses in their actual colour. This particular dress is of dark green velvet and the embroideries are sewn with golden thread. There are precious stones sewn into the embroideries as well which makes the dress sparkle.
The sleeves are unusual for the period; it was not in fashion to apply laces all the way up the sleeve - that was normally just for the end of the sleeves.

The gown in colour

NOTE: On the mannequin there is a necklace which is not a part of the movie snap-shot. However, it looks like a replica of a necklace actually owned by Marie Antoinette.

Pretty Pastel Dress

This beautiful yellow and pink pastel dress was worn by Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette in the 2006-edition. The fabric is satin and the dress is worn with panniers (or hoops) to increase the volume at the hips. The bows and the trimming of the bodice is of pink/yellow striped satin with small flower-embroideries and pearls.

The bodice itself is sewn in three parts that would have been inforced with whalebone if the dress had actually belonged to Marie Antoinette herself. This dress does not have seams in the bodice but the panels makes it look as if it does. The bodice itselfs is closed by 7 hooks.

Details of the bodice and the sleeves