Eugenie lived past her husband and one son, long enough to see the collapse of the European empires. She was exiled, but allowed to return to visit Queen Victoria. The influence of the two monarchs was profound on world fashion, as they crossed over 70 years of change in the …
Fashion History Blog
When Eugenie died, it ended the days of French fashion dominance…
… there would be many more Eugenies including her namesake, but no one who followed would be able to create, sponsor, wear, and market new innovations like the original Eugenie did. Some think it was her strong personality and will, some think it was a world with increased exposure to …
Eugenie’s influence on French fashion went beyond clothing
Eugenie was extremely active in the arts, & attended & sponsored theatre, dance, & visual arts. She traveled extensively including countries like Constantinople, which brought influences of fashion & textiles previously unattainable to prior nobility. (Photo: a somewhat aging, but forever fashionable Eugenie sports the 2nd bustle which looked like …
Not limited to clothing, Eugenie was a patron of all the arts..
Eugenie, last empress of France’s introduction of artists & craftsmen of all walks of life improved France’s status in the world of fine arts. She was known for her sponsorship of potters & artists of all types. (Photo: some of Eugenie’s formal wear jewelry, made especially for her by artists …
We are working hard!
On your behalf.. 4 complete ensembles by March is the deadline. On the way, we’ve had a lot of fun. Here’s a sketch of the 1866 Fiona Pioneer project we just love. Check out all the projects in development on the customer pages of the website.
Queen Victoria of England preferred to travel by carriage..
… and as in this portrait in 1897, was still going back and forth between countries to see her grandchildren, whom by that time, were also grandchildren of Eugenie of France. They became one, big family of Royals who spanned all of Europe.
The Napoleon III’s and Queen Victoria were buddies..
.. visits back and forth between countries, and the marriages of their extended families into the other Royal families across Europe had them quite publicly connected. The eventual use of trains for travel increased the interaction. (Sketch: Napoleon III of France escorts Queen Victoria of England in an early 1860’s …
Queen Victoria visited France, and Eugenie visited England..
.. quite often and became very close. One can imagine being a Queen or Empress made it difficult to talk openly and honestly with anyone other than another royal. We know they traded fashion secrets, because history and the museums document that after a Eugenie visit to England, Victoria would …
Queen Victoria of England met Empress Eugenie of France…
… at Eugenie’s Biarritz, and they became close friends. It was here Eugenie introduced the crinoline to Victoria, which the Queen would take back to England to become an integral part of Victorian fashion. (Photos: Featured: Eugenie’s Biarritz, on the Cote d’Azure in France, is still a vacation spot; below …
Eugenie in the 1870’s & 1880’s wore bustles…
.. and every fashion ensemble was designed just for her by a world renowned designer. It was Eugenie who made the designer world renowned. (Photo: An aging Eugenie wears designer Louis Vitton)