Rose Bertin was born in Northen France in 1747 from a humble family, going from rags to riches she started as a fashion merchant opening her own boutique in 1772 "Le Grand Mogol" in the weathy rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré in Paris to then become in the 1770's the "fashion designer" of Queen of France Marie Antoinette, soon being known as
her "Minister of Fashion".
In addition to the Queen of France, Rose Bertin dressed other European Queens such as Queens of Spain, Portugal and Sweden as well as many aristocrats and actresses from the Comédie Française. Her visionary dress-making saw her work essentially with passementerie like ribbons, laces & embroideries.
She's also famous for her inventive and creative "poufs" which are elaborate & extravagant coiffures made of feathers, flowers and even fruits. Rose Bertin became the official Fashion Consultant of the Queen of France, defining fashion of her time and having been credited in making "Haute Couture" a popular culture forefront.
Having Marie Antoinette as her most iconic and famous client ensured Rose Bertin success but the polictical events that lead to the French revolution also made her a victim of her staus. She was blamed for encouraging the Queen in purchasing astronomical pricey dresses and garments and in encouraging the Queen's supposed arrogance and frivolity. Furthermore that extravagant style symbolized to the eyes of the public and above all to the French population the illustration of the unapologetic royal lifestyle crystalising the gap between the royals existence & the one of their subjects.
Following the Queen's imprisonment & execution in 1792 Rose Bertin relocated to Belgium, Germany and London where she pursued her "fashion empire" by dressing fashionable French people in exile, thus managing to survive the French revolution. However her name has never remained as glorious as before her pre-revolutionary days.
Rose Bertin died in Germany, Berlin at the age of 67.
Here are some of Rose Bertin signature creations:
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| The Pouf |
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| Rose Bertin portrait |
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