En mai, fais ce qu'il te plaît...

Comtesse de la Châtre (Marie Charlotte Louise Perrette Aglaé Bontemps), 1789, Elisabeth Louise Vigée le Brun, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This portrait shows us the big influence of British art and fashion in France at the end of the century: look at the pose and the big hat. Very Romney, much Gainsborough.

Anyway, made in the same year that the French Revolution would start, we see the Comtesse de la Châtre wearing what seems a chemise à la reine but to me looks more like a round dress (because of the overskirt that looks kind-of fake?), made not in a plain white muslin but in Swiss dot. We can also clearly see the texture of the silk ribbon on her waist and hat, the cute small lace next to her hands and the little buttons at the cuffs. Also, take a look at the way her fichu is rolled and knotted at her back for it not move.

Well, this is a look I'd love to reproduce.

Petit Trianon