This is the individual photoshoot I did of Vanessa looking simply stunning in the Juno dress after last Saturday’s talk.

She looked fabulous, it was so fun to have the time to hang out with her, and, for just that final bit of awesomeness, she brought along the amazing Shona of In the Heyday, giving me the opportunity to get to know one of my vintage idols.  So exciting!

That train!  And I love that a few leaves ended up on it!

What a fabulous profile

I actually love the contrast of the gloves, and wonder if the garland would look good with white roses, instead of blue, for another pop of colour.

One of the ‘tweaks’ I want to do is adding the bertha that is on the inspiration dress.

I think it will add just the right bit of interest to the upper bodice back.

For now, a corsage helps.

Possibly my favourite image from the session

She looks so cool and composed, despite the heat in the greenhouse

Beauty and the (absolutely adorable) beast.

Seriously, how gorgeous is she?

I can’t decide if I like her better in black and white, or colour, but I know that I want to try her in 1910s and 1940s fashions.  She’ll look amazing!

I only wish she and the gorgeous Miss Claire had been able to stick around for more of the photoshoot!

Last week you found the shocking pink Victorian well…shocking, either for being avant garde, or just for being shockingly bad.  It rated a 5.6 out of 10

I promised that this week I would not post another late Victorian dress, and I’m holding to that.  So I present you with a period that inspired many a late Victorian fashion trend: the Baroque.

Rubens paints Anne of Austria, Queen of France in an extremely patriotic dress of brilliant blue fleur de lys ornamented silk with a fleur de lys shaped bodice.

Peter Paul Rubens, Anne of Austria 1622-1625

The dress, and portrait, are perhaps an attempt to solidify Anne’s position as Queen at a particularly uneasy time.  Her husband had never been particularly interested in her and blamed her for a series of miscarriages.  She had been unpopular with the people for refusing to give up her Spanish ladies in waiting and adapt to French ways, and had only recently been convinced to adopt French fashions.

The portrait celebrates Anne’s new look, and aims to present her in a flattering light to her husband and people.  The results in her life were mixed: her husband remained distant, but Anne did become a powerful, respected force at court.

What are the results today?  How do you feel about the ensemble?  Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10