Tea at Trianon: Overdressing vs Chic

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Friday, August 17, 2007

Overdressing vs Chic

An interesting article. I have sometimes been accused of overdressing, simply because I prefer skirts and dresses to jeans, and like to wear hats to church. But with hair like mine, I'll never be chic. (It's too unruly.) Share

6 comments:

Brantigny said...: What is the problem with women looking like women? There are too many men who want to look like women so for the sake of humanity, Pleeeeeze don't worry about "overdressing"!!!

de Brantigny; August 17, 2007 at 4:45:00 PM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: Oh, I stopped worrying about stuff like that 20 years ago.....; August 17, 2007 at 4:53:00 PM EDT
Brantigny said...: I have been thinking about getting my wifee and daughters mantillas. I remember in the Phillipines the women all wore mantillas. It was special; August 17, 2007 at 8:10:00 PM EDT
Anonymous said...: I get those comments too. "Why are you so dressed up?!" or "Oh, you didn't need to dress up - it's only a casual get together!"

I didn't show up in a formal gown for cryin' out loud! I wear mostly cute, modern styled casual skirts and blouses or dresses. Why is that so shocking?

Maybe if I showed up like a slob I'd be better received?; August 18, 2007 at 3:22:00 AM EDT
Anonymous said...: +JMJ+

De Brantigny:

When were you last in the Philippines? It is my home and as far as I can tell, I am the only one in my parish (and my Catholic school) who wears a mantilla.

*****

Elena:

How do you get away with wearing a hat??? I tried that a few years ago, when I couldn't find myself a mantilla, and was ordered by all the "parish officials" to take it off before entering. It had somehow become as rude as a man keeping his hat on indoors, even though the rules are supposed to be different from women's hats. (Then again, women have never really worn hats in the Philippines. There was no tradition on my side . . .); August 18, 2007 at 4:59:00 AM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: Margaret, the same thing happens to me!

Yes, my grandma was from the Philippines and she always wore a mantilla- and she was an Anglican!

Oh, Marissa, that is unbelievable. Ladies are supposed to keep hats ON in church; only gentlemen remove hats indoors. Those people who made you remove your hat are very ignorant. I love hats; they finish off an outfit. Usually, I just wear a little black beret, which is unassuming and non-threatening.; August 18, 2007 at 8:14:00 AM EDT