These fiercely independent young women from Montmartre and Belleville worked in the luxurious boutiques at Rue de la Paix and Opéra at the turn of the 20th century. Sequestered in the ateliers of Paris, they created the magnificent Haute Couture fashions worn by royalty, aristocracy and the elite.

Coco Chanel knew what she was talking about, but when Marie Antoinette wore the Chemise dress to the Royal Court at Versailles she caused quite the controversy! Her courtesans and critics alike had forgotten that this style of dress was the favourite of the Ancient Greek Muses and they were blissfully unaware that it would continue to endure the test of time to inspire two of the great 20th century fashion designers, Madame Grès and Madeleine Vionnet.

In the Haute Couture fashion houses of Paris they whisper that embroiderers have the touch of fairies, their embroidered embellishments sparkle and glisten with a savoir-faire fit for fairy-godmothers. Every embroiderer in Paris has a trousse, a little case containing tools and materials made by the best craftspeople in France. And every embroidery studio has a stockroom, a secret space filled with the threads, beads, sequins, rhinestones, and ribbons needed to create gowns fit for fairytales. Parisienne embroiderers are known to be secretive about their tools and materials, but some secrets are worth sharing!

Let’s continue the tale of the extravagant accessories in Haute Couture fashion. The cause of many an aristocratic household budget to flounder, we’ll visit the Queen of Lace in Alençon and continue on to Chantilly, unravelling yet another tale of craftsmanship and savoir-faire!