From the Creative Team:
Marie Antoinette is the most iconic figure in the rich history of France. Marie Antoinette was the embodiment of all things royal. She enjoyed elaborate parties, fashion, art, and of course cake! For our shoot, we wanted to design a wedding that Miss Antoinette herself would have loved had she been alive in 2020. Each element was inspired by her avant-garde aesthetic and her love of art. Her personality, lifestyle, and fashion choices will be remembered forever and will inspire future artists of the decades to come. Now let them eat cake!
The cakes were beautifully piped in a traditional style that dates back to the French Revolution where Marie Antoinette may have indulged in similar-looking sweets. She was known to be quite gluttonous so we incorporated not 1, but 5 cakes!
The florals were inspired by what many historians argue was her favourite colour; pink. Dried florals were chosen as they add the modern element of sustainability which contrasts with Marie Antoinette’s lavish spending. The people of France frowned upon her wasteful spending habits. This viewpoint would be echoed by the people of today as our society has become very mindful of environmental sustainability. Using dried flowers allows for the recycling of florals in other bouquets whereas fresh flowers would soon meet their doom after the wedding, never to be used again.
For the makeup, we wanted to create a look that Marie Antoinette would wear in today’s world. She would likely love all things glitter so the final look evoked royal glam paired with, of course, a pink lip.
The photography evokes timeless glamour with an artistic flair. Although photography wasn’t around during the 1700s, Marie Antoinette loved all things art. She favoured up and coming artists instead of the traditional “masters” of the age, much to their dismay. I, the photographer, am an up and coming photographer. In an industry that can be extremely cut-throat at times, it is admiring to learn that the Queen of France gave up and coming artists a chance. This industry can sometimes feel stuck in a certain style, with people being reluctant to try new approaches by younger vendors. Marie Antoinette gave newcomer painter, Vigee Le Brun, a chance and Le Brun eventually became famous for her portraits of Marie.
For this shoot, we knew we wanted to incorporate ballet, another love of Marie Antoinette’s. Luckily the model used to be a competitive ballet dancer and had her own pointe shoes that she was able to wear and dance in for the first time in 3 years.
300 years later, Marie Antoinette is still an iconic figure. Her personality, lifestyle, and fashion choices will be remembered forever and will inspire future artists of the decades to come. Now let them eat cake!
Sources
Kaitlyn Jean Photography/Hycroft Manor/Cassandra Cake Co/Brittany’s Florals/
Berta/Jasmine Hoffman/Clara Leung Designs/Jeweliette/Stephanie Jackson
