I made Marie Antoinette's Scandalous Summer Dress || Sewing an 18th Century Chemise a la Reine

Рет қаралды 51,315

3 жыл бұрын

The chemise a la reine was an absolute PR nightmare for Marie Antoinette when it first premiered in 1783 at the Salon in Paris. That didn't stop it from becoming the most popular gown for the next few years. I decided to make my own, based on an extant at the Musee de Toile de Jouy in France. In this video, I talk about the history of this gown, as well as make my own, including making hundreds of embroidered sprigs for the fabric.
I always get asked this: the yellow dress I’m wearing is from Linennaive.com !
Links about the chemise a la reine and it's problematic past:
Pt 1: pCB0d8Ovgq...
Pt 2: pCCBS5HygS...
Pt 3: pCCLM8P9gE...
Pt 4: pCCUzbwiAM...
Other links: www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs...
slaveryandremembrance.org/arti....
Researching the chemise a la reine:
fabricnfiction.com/2019/08/05...
clothingtextiles.ualberta.ca/...
A Stitch in Time episode 6: • A Stitch in Time S01E0...
Fabrics for Chemise a la reines:
htts://www.vaune.com/product/swiss-voile-white/
www.renaissancefabrics.net/pr...
burnleyandtrowbridge.com/coll...
Photographers who's work I show:
Final photograph was by Lindsey Hinderer: lindseyhinderer.com/
THe picnic photos (The good one, not the bad selfies) by Get Creative Photography- / get-creative-photo-vid...
The book I mentioned: The cut of women's clothes 1600-1930: amzn.to/3dNhSL8
I am in fact a Baby Lock Ambassador and these are the machines I use: @Baby Lock Sewing Machines
Embroidery Machine: Venture: babylock.com/machines/multi-n...
Sewing Machine: Soprano: babylock.com/machines/sewing/...
Serger: Victory: babylock.com/machines/serger/...
Digitizing Software: Palette 11: babylock.com/accessories/soft...
Other tools (Affiliate links where available)
Simflex Sewing Gauge: amzn.to/3geL8ul
Clover Button Hole Cutter amzn.to/36K0TpZ
Clover Tapered Awl amzn.to/3tP7989
Extremely large (40"x60") cutting mat - amzn.to/37GZYG4
The incredible pin dish that I use thanks to @Costuming Drama - amzn.to/3mMgcUT
Ruler - amzn.to/32YNIiV
Favorite Needles for hand sewing: amzn.to/3nx7zNM
Favorite Thread for sewing:
www.superiorthreads.com/threa...
Source for Shoes: Americanduchess.com who has their own channel: @American Duchess
Favorite Thimbles from: www.etsy.com/shop/NSMCreative...
Wall mural from Limitless walls
Me in different realms:
Blog: www.Sewstine.com
Shop: sewstine.etsy.com/
Instagram: /
Other site: www.sewstineart.com/
Music from ArtList

Пікірлер: 220

@gnostic268 3 жыл бұрын

I love the chemise à la reine dresses. I'm Lakota (Native American) so my people weren't the tribes who were growing cotton in the southern area of what is the U.S. today. My mother in-law's people were Natchez and Muskogee Creek so my children and grandchildren are related to those tribes. There are so many Indigenous related foods (potatoes, tomatoes, corn, etc) and other crops ( cotton, tobacco) that go uncredited as being something Indigenous people in North and South America created that raising awareness and knowledge is a good thing. Native people were originally the first to be enslaved in the New World colonization. Most tribes in the Caribbean died out from diseases brought by colonists and slaves from Africa because they had no previous exposure to build up immunity. The Caribbean people today have completely replaced the original inhabitants of those islands. There is a lot of history that isn't talked about and I think re-creating these dresses is a step in the right direction. There are many sides to events that took place in the past imo. They should all be told and discussed without the finger pointing/gatekeeping that seems to be so prevalent right now.

@zevrxn 3 жыл бұрын

sewstine: sees a dress sewstine: sewstine: sees embroidery sewstine: OK you win i'll make it

@Sewstine 3 жыл бұрын

Rofl omg this is me. I feel seen.

@Zwiebelmon 3 жыл бұрын

"the french one" made me snort - thank you for another great video!

@auranah_was_taken 3 жыл бұрын

Same here 😂🐷

@lamedumbjoker 3 жыл бұрын

As a person who is currently trying to learn french I could relate😂😂

@kirstenpaff8946 3 жыл бұрын

Me: I can totally make a chemise a la reine out of these 5 yards of curtains, right? Sewstine: I ended up using 12 yards of fabric. Me: Oh...

@WindspielArt 3 жыл бұрын

depends how wide your curtains are. Some are double the with of 'regular' fabric, so your 5 yards could be enough if your lucky and yours are wider too :D

@adedow1333 3 жыл бұрын

I've got a set of dark blue bedsheets that are begging to be made into this dress

@kirstenpaff8946 3 жыл бұрын

@@WindspielArt I wish I was that lucky, but the curtains are only 54 inches wide (before washing).

@breeskylerwalker_official 3 жыл бұрын

u could make a very small one :P lol

@kdarcyjames 3 жыл бұрын

The amount of effort and time you put into these pieces is really inspiring. I feel for the sanity of those who had to embroider the original french chemise without a machine!

@dsch2000 3 жыл бұрын

You, my dear Sewstine, are completely bonkers and I absolutely love it - 120 hours just for the embroidery! How do you find the time with a job and family as well? I am blown away by this incredible commitment and skill and just how wonderful you are! 🤩

@a.k.6468 3 жыл бұрын

The chemise à la Reine is one of my favorite dress‘ in history ✨

@sublimnalphish7232 3 жыл бұрын

Mixed with an edwardian day dress of that fabric yes. I love the dress! I love white too.

@christinecameron1612 3 жыл бұрын

Fortunately in modern times people are ignorant of the fact that this was LITERALLY just her underwear, so it passes for being acceptable to wear as a dress. Every time I see Marie's portrait in that dress I just have to cringe and think, somebody should have put some real clothes on the poor demented girl.

@theodorajones8505 3 жыл бұрын

@@christinecameron1612 It was not literally just her underwear. Women wore stays and petticoats and other foundation garments with a chemise dress. She was wearing real clothing.

@frockups5931 3 жыл бұрын

@@christinecameron1612 It wasn't though. It was very much outerwear, heavily ripped/inspired by what enslaved women in the Caribbean were wearing as well as cotton clothes from the Indian subcontinent. The "it's her underwear!" was a hyperbole to denigrate the style, commenting on its informality and lack of Rococo complexity, not a literal statement of "the women are wearing undergarments". Your comment here lacks both an understanding of the past, dress history, and any real nuance or care for people. Please think before you post. Marie was not "demented" (leave off the ableism too) nor was she a girl. She was an adult woman making her own sartorial choices, well aware of what those choices meant as part of her constructed image.

@teaspilled4734 3 ай бұрын

@@frockups5931The dress wasn't ripped from enslaved women in carabbean,j ust look at the paintings of caribbean plantations and the enslaved women aren't wearing anything close to a chemise a la reine, also a chemise a la reine would have not been a practical cloth to work in. It most likely orignated from he elite women in the caribbean who were (obvioulsy) not enslaved. Also the cotton from which the chemise was made would have been really expensive for an ensalved woman

@wynnewhitten-holmes5090 3 жыл бұрын

Honestly, for about half of this video I was sitting here, agog, not even trying to follow the technical explanations, simply marvelling at the immense skill and experience you brought to this project. And I love your attitude! Why should you make a version of any dress that you don't want to wear?

@HattieMcDanielonaMoon 3 жыл бұрын

@roninelenion4805 3 жыл бұрын

I absolutely love the look of chemise a la reine dresses. If I were ever to get married, it would be in a similar-looking gown that I sew myself.

@MuseAndDionysus 3 жыл бұрын

This came out really airy and delicate! Thank you so much for talking about the history of this dress, including the history of the fabric

@zosmavideos4891 3 жыл бұрын

"this super delicate cotton" *throws into washing machine* If that isn't a mood I don't know what is 😂😂

@Kerberos.Cosplay 3 жыл бұрын

You KNOW its gonna be a great day when Sewstine posts!

@sublimnalphish7232 3 жыл бұрын

Once upon a time back in the late 1960s early 1970 I once wore a dress of that light of fabric and I had one many years later loosely based on the dress but made more like an edwardian knock off late 20th century. I still loved it dearly!

@Dresscodes.by.Jacky1312 3 жыл бұрын

I love the more structured take on this! somehow this terrifies me less, than the "simpler" approaches on constructing a chemis a la reine that i've seen so far =)

@pamjordan1793 3 жыл бұрын

Christine what a beautiful dress! You are what I would like to be when I grow up! (I'm only 65)! You have a wonderful stick- to-it-ness that is absent in me! You have enough energy to rule the world girl! I'm proud to be one of your loyal (happily so) subscribers!

@johanna9071 3 жыл бұрын

As someone who loves Candy Candy, I am here for the Ruffle dress and Terry's Pirate Shirt.

@digitaldgirl4459 3 жыл бұрын

You're level of patience for all the miles of hand stitching is heroic. I love this gown and you always look so amazing in your final product. I love seeing photos of your family enjoying costuming events. I suppose this is why you are a great MD too. Love, love , love this.

@pagodrink 3 жыл бұрын

I'm really glad you took the time to show people where to learn about Costume history's problematic parts. Even just showing people where to go with links, makes a huge difference in spreading awareness.

@tamarrein7792 3 жыл бұрын

WOW, thanks for including historical background on this GORGEOUS DRESS! My hands hurt watching you clean up those yards of embroidered scallops.

@janehollander1934 3 жыл бұрын

I bet that your favourite depiction of this "chemise a la reine" dress is the 1785 Thomas Gainsborough painting showing 'Mr. and Mrs. William Hallett' aka "The Morning Walk". Because of the lovely Pomeranian sheepdog that's also shown. (As I believe you have dog(s?), "Elspeth", in this particular breed)✌🏻😊.👋🏻🇳🇱

@GamyH 3 жыл бұрын

I have seen those damn slidey things all my life, and I never knew what they were called. SEWING CALLIPERS.

@FullMoonOctober 3 жыл бұрын

I think a lot of the reason for the uproar was because Marie Antoinette just couldn't win for loosing when it came to her public image. She dresses up: she's living a lavish lifestyle and flaunting her wealth while the poor wear rags and starve. She dresses in a more understated garment that many can afford: she's unqueenlike, and is disrespecting the aristocracy. She wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but you start to feel like she was set up to fail.

@elizabethclaiborne6461 3 жыл бұрын

Tell us about the saffron colored linen dress you’re wearing? Looks pretty reine-y to me.

@asiabryant207 3 жыл бұрын

Yes please! Every time I see it I want it.

@AngelMnemosyne 3 жыл бұрын

I think it's probably this: www.linennaive.com/collections/christmas-capsule/products/maxi-linen-dress-in-yellow-ruffle-dress-linennaive

@vysgiyi 3 жыл бұрын

I thought so too!!

@JankoWalski-hz3lu 2 жыл бұрын

I just came here to ask the same question, for a moment I thought maybe that's one of these other chemises she mentioned she wanted to make but that could take another few months xD

@__DY__ 2 жыл бұрын

Edit: it’s the Osmanthus from linennaive, she linked it in the description of the DIY Ruffled Gingham Dress video under “What I’m wearing”. It’s $149 and she has a discount code SEWSTINE for 10% off.

@myettechase 3 жыл бұрын

I’m in the midst of sewing my own chemise a la reine right now- not as professionally as you, though! 😅

@marie-heleneleclair6233 3 жыл бұрын

Soo cool! You found an article by the university of alberta (my alma mater). The world is so small!! Btw your finished look is very pretty and i really enjoyed all the research and time you put into this video.

@kimberley7300 3 жыл бұрын

The craftsmanship still blows my mind

@chibiameplantsandstuff8294 3 жыл бұрын

Oh please make a custom hat to go with the dress. It’s so Gorgeous with that style of hat.

@deannastevens1217 3 жыл бұрын

Holy WOWZERZ!!! That looks so comfy and so beautiful on you. I Love how you tackled the pleating/gathering issues. Very Clever. The embroidery is amazing. I have got to learn how to use my embroidery machine. You are amazing. p.s....... You look wonderful in all that HairDo!!

@thaelfern 3 жыл бұрын

I think the whole process of embroidering your own fabric is so dang cool, i've never heard of a machine like that, and the amount of fabric she had to do was huge! So interesting to see!

@carolinebrown539 3 жыл бұрын

I have only 2 words “C’est Manifique”!!!!!

@joannaerhardt7294 3 жыл бұрын

For me, the most romantic dress ever created! Your dress is such a beautiful rendition. You are so talented!💖💖💖

@michellecornum5856 3 жыл бұрын

I had no idea about the back! That is So interesting! Love this! I still don't know how you aren't just mesmerized by the embroidery machine. Excellent video! The classic shades really make the outfit! !!

@Sewstine 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@davidcohen3001 3 жыл бұрын

I always look forward to your videos. You’re amazing!!!

@Britney.J 3 жыл бұрын

Stunning work and results. Great job!

@BurnleyandTrowbridge 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the shout out!♥️

@roxiepoe9586 3 жыл бұрын

I love every little thing about this dress and this look!

@vaughnstinebaker5707 3 жыл бұрын

You are so goddamn cool and i love hearing about your process and seeing your sources. Thank you for doing what you do

@paloma_hill 3 жыл бұрын

I do so appreciate your explanations and research- and your wonderful resulting videos!

@nicoleandtime 3 жыл бұрын

I love the modern twists you add in your photo shoots ♥️

@eileenmc4746 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for history and your concerns so you put in links. Bravo

@lemonjamz6454 3 жыл бұрын

I was soo excited for this video Christine!! The finished product looks gorgeous as always

@greeengoo 3 жыл бұрын

i loved this video christine! it was so nice to see the other way of making the chemise a la reine, thank you for making such beautiful educational videos 💕

@Skyf1ght 2 жыл бұрын

I love the enthusiasm u also have for ur sewing projects!

@robinsummers9141 3 жыл бұрын

WOW! A true labor of love! Just beautiful!

@grottoserpentina9342 3 жыл бұрын

I am in awe of your genius.

@katiekat4235 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful dress! And the hat is a nice touch!

@rebeccacuthbertson1271 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing such detail about your techniques when making all your gowns/costumes/garments. It's truly remarkable and educational.

@watsonmelon6575 3 жыл бұрын

I love all the information you give on the garment and the finished product!

@brendayoungblood9484 3 жыл бұрын

There's actually not a place on earth or in history that didn't have the evil of slavery at some point in time.

@melbabowen4389 3 жыл бұрын

You made such a lovely gown! The photo of you in the dress with the pink hat is DELIGHTFUL!!! Thank you!!!

@roses6773 3 жыл бұрын

The dress turned out amazing ❤️

@marissawacholder5822 3 жыл бұрын

Honestly every time I see your videos all I want to do is build on my own skills. You make following your dress dreams look so much fun

@NellBelle 3 жыл бұрын

Another great dress! The last photograph of you holding a rose facing down is the best of the best. I vote for that being another of your thumb photos.

@mellieemerton3080 3 жыл бұрын

Your work is so wonderful. The dress is beautiful and you look beautiful in it. I really enjoyed this video, thankyou for sharing it x

@myhandsaslanguage 3 жыл бұрын

Incredible. You look so pretty in this dress! Well done, especially with all that embroidery!

@annbrookens945 3 жыл бұрын

This dress is so beautifully delicate! You look delightful in it! I love the sheer embroidered fabric so much!

@SayaShinigami 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for always sharing these wonderful videos Sewstine

@catherinejustcatherine1778 3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate you getting this out tp us. I hope all goes smoothly for you.

@chp21600 8 ай бұрын

OMG soooo beautiful!! Thank you for sharing and you look so amazing in the photo shoot! Just gorgeous!

@trishblakely3476 3 жыл бұрын

I ADORE watching the three of you working together to create your amazing portraits. 😀❤️

@larkmacgregor3143 3 жыл бұрын

You're a marvel. Thanks for the lovely video of your process and your beautiful end result!

@ramblingseth 3 жыл бұрын

It was so cool to see this come together!

@bloomfieldartsacademyatsac4033 2 жыл бұрын

excellent. absolutely beautiful. I enjoy watching your videos and thank you for providing the links below so i can continue to research and learn more about this chemise à la reine robe.

@adedow1333 3 жыл бұрын

I love it! The semi-structure really suits you. I also love the peonies you used in the photo shoot! So delicate and elegant. Well done indeed!

@BelleChanson0717 3 жыл бұрын

This video is perfectly timed; I am planning on making my own chemise à la reine this summer and I will probably be watching this multiple times for tips!

@A.E.M22502 3 жыл бұрын

Oooooo! I immediately got excited when I saw Candy as a future dress!! This dress came out stunningly love it! 🥰👏🏻

@whiteeaglewarrior 3 жыл бұрын

So stunning in its simplicity, you wore it well in your makeover shoot

@HalflingSeamstress 3 жыл бұрын

This looks so gorgeous! I really enjoyed seeing how you made it without the super poofy collar, as that's been my biggest hesitancy to try making one, and I love how simple but elegant it looks with just the plain collar.

@aliceadler4569 3 жыл бұрын

Hope you are feeling better!!! Lovely gown!!! You look wonderful in it!!! ♥️♥️♥️💐💐💐. Love the sunglasses!!!!

@E_FoxSnowspirit 3 жыл бұрын

O h ruffles are quite the pain….. But they’re so much worth it! It never ceases to amaze me at how historical dresses take infinite amounts of fabric and infinite amounts of fabric, yet have amazing pay-off

@lauraoergel6003 2 жыл бұрын

Omgggggg i love the short one though, its friggin adorable. Like lacy, latte froth in a dress.

@bcase5328 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for doing this. Thank you for including the scholarly references. Enjoyment and education can coexist.

@autumn7143 3 жыл бұрын

I like this one so much better than the one with all the ruffles at the neck. It looks amazing on you!!! Wonderful work!!!

@juls_krsslr7908 Жыл бұрын

I love this dress! I don't like bulkiness around the waist, either, so I prefer your version to the cinched style. One day, I am going to make one of these, or maybe two. I'd really like a pale pink one, too.

@rudetuesday 3 жыл бұрын

I really liked the dress before the added ruffles, and loved it after. Thank you for the links for more information about the dress history. Much appreciated.

@coreygilles847 3 жыл бұрын

Gorgeous work as always

@lizethvelardeperez12 Ай бұрын

You look amazing with those curls!

@yx6889 3 жыл бұрын

Wow that dress looks amazing! And time consuming, but so worth it!

@Scriptadiaboly 2 жыл бұрын

Love your videos, very informative!

@sweetlorikeet 3 жыл бұрын

I had NEVER heard that detail regarding the Affair of the Necklace before!! I always wondered about the impersonation, that makes so much sense

@crystilmurch5659 3 жыл бұрын

I love the way you handled the social issues surrounding this project. Also, thank you so much for the book name! I have been trying to remember it for the last two weeks and just couldn't access the info tucked back in my brain. The dress is gorgeous and you did an amazing job with the scallops. Adding up in my head the amount of time and labor hand embroidering the original would have taken is mind blowing.

@terezar880 3 жыл бұрын

The dress turned out amazing! I loved your reaction when Mallory put the hairpiece on you and you saw yourself in the mirror

@TheSolipsist0 3 жыл бұрын

I just told my husband about that dress yesterday. Today: Your upload. A sign? 😅 You made a dream come true.

@jakethesexysaint4812 3 жыл бұрын

Wow you really moved like royalty while wearing the dress. It looks really really amazing. Besides, thank you very much for sharing the sources regarding the dress's problematic history!

@Voronochka262 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing. You did a great job with this dress

@cepcee6035 Жыл бұрын

'I have just subscribed because I am just fascinated by your amazing talent ……I have a sewing machine and used it to take in some jeans lol and I will never be able to move onto a full dress 👗…..but that does not matter , or at all ! This dress is so beautiful and delicate and wonderful…thank you for sharing , I can feel a binge watch coming on 💋

@raycollins672 3 жыл бұрын

Call me crazy, but I like to wait until she has posted several videos before I watch any of them. That way, I can enjoy a longer binge-watching session. 😆👍🏾

@minkaf4243 3 жыл бұрын

You are a delight! The sewing. The gown. The stories. The embroidery. The hair. The makeup. The sunglasses.

@vlduran5720 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely stunning

@stevezytveld6585 3 жыл бұрын

This is a crazy-beautiful amount of work. Her Highness would be proud of her spiritual great great (etc.) granddaughter. Well done. Please say you'll wear this to the grocery store. It needs to see sunlight as much as humanly possible... simply Stunning. Enjoy your time away. Hope all is well and that you and yours enjoy the summer. Cheers! - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown

@jayshreeoram2746 2 жыл бұрын

It looks awesome, best of luck on the next ruffly one

@shariwelch8760 3 жыл бұрын

Oh I love A Stitch in Time, so glad you mentioned the show. By the way I love the "regular" dresses you're wearing to present in and sew in. :)

@friedeggs5680 2 жыл бұрын

WE STAN A LINKING TO OTHER SOURCES QUEEN

@johnshepard629 3 жыл бұрын

Now, those are amazing ruffles!!!👍🏻❤️👍🏻

@josephinekromer2827 3 жыл бұрын

I already really wanted to make one now I REALLY REALLY REALLY! Want to make one!!❤❤❤❤ so beautiful!

@bicsmith4899 3 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful dress.

@calicolyon 3 жыл бұрын

You and your team have done so many lovely photo shoots I'm sure they work with you in their sleep! :)

@chtitmog 3 жыл бұрын

I absolutely love this semi-structured version! I have bought a pattern to make my own chemise à la reine but I need to be more confident in my skills. Lol. I really admire your work - your level of craftsmanship is out of the world to me! 😀 Also, I am French and you did great with your pronunciation of French words. And even if you didn’t, I want to say that no one should put others down for trying speaking another language than their first one. Your ears would bleed hearing me speak English. 😅 Honestly I don’t understand how rude some people are. Anyway, love your videos and your personality - so inspirational! 💖 Radha x

@EmiiPie 3 жыл бұрын

Another great video ❤️

@junelovell1189 3 жыл бұрын

I think the the last shot, spray of roses 'dropped', is one of the most beautiful photos of your collaboration/collection. HOWEVER, I think I saw a white dog in one of the paintings you referenced. I have to ask: WHERE IS THE DOG? Very cute family photos at the picnic. Thank you for sharing, again.