Rococo Romance is an exquisite sculptural work that celebrates the opulent elegance and romantic sensibility of 18th-century fashion, when Marie Antoinette's court at Versailles set the standard for feminine beauty and elaborate dress became an art form in itself.
Constructed entirely from vintage sewing pattern paper that has been naturally aged and dyed using locally sourced plants, bark, and vegetables, the piece possesses a rich, organic patina in warm cream and golden tones. This botanical dyeing process creates subtle variations and an authentic aged quality that evokes centuries-old textiles preserved in palace collections and museum archives. The natural materials imbue the work with earthiness and authenticity, connecting contemporary craft with historical tradition.
Dramatically presented from the back, the dress showcases its most remarkable feature—a tightly laced corset bodice with delicate pink ribbon crisscrossing through eyelets in a zigzag pattern down the spine. This display of structure and support, often glimpsed in Rococo portraiture and fashion plates, becomes the focal point, revealing the architecture beneath 18th-century beauty. The off-shoulder neckline is trimmed with delicate lace or frayed paper edge, while the three-quarter length sleeves feature elaborate pattern markings and construction details characteristic of the period's complex tailoring.
At the narrow waist, a decorative rosette made from dyed fabric in dusty rose tones serves as an elegant accent, from which pink ribbons cascade downward in the manner of fashionable stomacher decoration. The magnificent full skirt spreads in generous box pleats, its volume suggesting the paniers and petticoats that created the iconic Rococo silhouette. Scattered across the skirt are additional small fabric rosettes in muted mauve, like scattered garden flowers or the pastoral embellishments favoured in an era obsessed with romanticised nature and shepherdess fantasies.
Pattern text and construction markings remain visible throughout—"FOLD LINE," sizing codes like "B222," and technical instructions—grounding this historical fantasy in the reality of dressmaking craft.
Presented in a deep shadow box with rich burgundy background and an antiqued bronze-toned frame, Rococo Romance honours both the grandeur of 18th-century fashion and the enduring tradition of women's needlework, when every dress was a masterpiece of engineering, patience, and artistry.
Rococo Romance is an exquisite sculptural work that celebrates the opulent elegance and romantic sensibility of 18th-century fashion, when Marie Antoinette's court at Versailles set the standard for feminine beauty and elaborate dress became an art form in itself.
Constructed entirely from vintage sewing pattern paper that has been naturally aged and dyed using locally sourced plants, bark, and vegetables, the piece possesses a rich, organic patina in warm cream and golden tones. This botanical dyeing process creates subtle variations and an authentic aged quality that evokes centuries-old textiles preserved in palace collections and museum archives. The natural materials imbue the work with earthiness and authenticity, connecting contemporary craft with historical tradition.
Dramatically presented from the back, the dress showcases its most remarkable feature—a tightly laced corset bodice with delicate pink ribbon crisscrossing through eyelets in a zigzag pattern down the spine. This display of structure and support, often glimpsed in Rococo portraiture and fashion plates, becomes the focal point, revealing the architecture beneath 18th-century beauty. The off-shoulder neckline is trimmed with delicate lace or frayed paper edge, while the three-quarter length sleeves feature elaborate pattern markings and construction details characteristic of the period's complex tailoring.
At the narrow waist, a decorative rosette made from dyed fabric in dusty rose tones serves as an elegant accent, from which pink ribbons cascade downward in the manner of fashionable stomacher decoration. The magnificent full skirt spreads in generous box pleats, its volume suggesting the paniers and petticoats that created the iconic Rococo silhouette. Scattered across the skirt are additional small fabric rosettes in muted mauve, like scattered garden flowers or the pastoral embellishments favoured in an era obsessed with romanticised nature and shepherdess fantasies.
Pattern text and construction markings remain visible throughout—"FOLD LINE," sizing codes like "B222," and technical instructions—grounding this historical fantasy in the reality of dressmaking craft.
Presented in a deep shadow box with rich burgundy background and an antiqued bronze-toned frame, Rococo Romance honours both the grandeur of 18th-century fashion and the enduring tradition of women's needlework, when every dress was a masterpiece of engineering, patience, and artistry.
Dimensions: 28cm x 23xm x 6cm
Materials: Vintage sewing pattern paper, natural dyes, board, velvet
Care: Keep away from direct sunlight to preserve the colours
