Obviously, if you’re here, you know that I love vintage fashion. And if you’re a close friend, you know how much I love French architecture and interiors, particularly Baroque (1600-1729) and Rococo (1730-59). Usually, I find that those who dress in vintage fashion and have an interest in interior design are drawn to Retro Futurism or Mid-Century Modern instead. As much as I live and breathe retro fashion, I despise Mid-Century Modern decor for my home! When done well, I can appreciate it from a distance. I much prefer the ostentatious French Style. Is it opulent, gold, fussy, formal, over-the-top? YES! Blame the Persian blood in me; I just love a gold room covered in mirrors…
If you know a Middle Eastern person, you’re laughing right now because every one of us has a penchant for gold-encrusted interiors! Since I live in an apartment, I’ve gone more for a French provincial look, but kept the drama with French furniture, Trumeau mirrors, and gilded accents everywhere. I’ve always felt that there is a link between my love for French decor and vintage fashion, but I could never bridge the gap in my mind. It was more of an intuitive connection, until now.
Mid Century Meets Rococo
Now that I’ve done some research, I think I understand why French decor and vintage fashion are linked in my mind so strongly. French Provincial has had many significant revivals throughout the past three centuries. About every 100 years or so there is a significant revival. One of these revivals happens to have its roots in Old Hollywood. You’ll easily recognize this in films throughout the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s – a style now dubbed “Hollywood regency“.
Hollywood Regency, a term coined by interior designer Dorothy Draper, was a blending of luxurious and opulent elements from Rococo, French Provincial, Neo-Classical, and Federalist design. It’s interesting that you see this most blatantly in boudoir sets; it’s always the bedroom that looks more Rococo than any thing else.
Anyway, Hollywood Regency spread into postwar homes. You might recall your grandmother owning some Basset French Provincial style furniture as pictured below:
I myself own at least three Bassett French provincial furniture items. The second hand market is teeming with these delicious finds!
Since I grew up watching movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood, the image of these fabulous vintage outfits being worn amongst Hollywood Regency interiors was burned in my brain forever. This is the reason that French interiors and Retro Fashion are so intertwined in my mind.
Get the Look
The glamour of the sets and clothing in these movies contrasted heavily against the modern clothes and homes I lived in. I felt as though my modern world was Dorothy’s sepia Kansas, and Old Hollywood was technicolor Oz. I idolized the beauty and opulence of it; I wanted to embody the glamor when I grew up. And now I am grown up, and living my dreams (on a budget lol).
I think that you see a lot of callbacks to French design in the current vintage fashion community. For example, I love this photo of Dita von Teese in her iconic Vivienne Westwood gown:
The padding at the hips echoes the 18th century pannier, the bodice looks like stays from the same era, and even the fabric, a lovely toile, is quintessentially French. Some of my other favorite “Vintage reproduction 50s does Rococo” fashion moments are this Fragonard print from Bernie Dexter:
Yes, I mean Jean-Honore Fragonard. The medallions on the skirt and bodice featured some of his pastoral scenes. I also love (and own) this red toile print from Bernie Dexter. The neckline and flounced cuffs incorporate inspiration from 17th century gowns:
And in yet another instance of Retro does Rococo, we have this vintage reproduction fascinator, which bears a remarkable resemblance to the begere, or ‘Shepherdess Hat”:
Here, we see fashion recur. But it is not purely cyclical. It is a spiral, combining repetition and modification.
Love,
Tatyana