Mantua - Tumblr Posts
Which was more seen at court? A Court Mantua or a robe de cour?
It’d depends on what court we’re talking about. Let’s remember that court attire was very detailed on what should be worn. So, in English court a mantua would be worn, and in France and the rest of Europe, a robe de cour would be the one.
Even though a court mantua and a robe de cour are practically the same thing, I’d like to point at the main difference between both. Here we go:
The sleeves. The mantua sleeves changes with the fashion (we see cuffs or ruffles of the same fabric of the bodice), while on a robe de cour the sleeves are of many lace ruffles.
English mantua, 1755-1760 // Queen Lovisa Ulrika’s coronation robe from 1751
Closure. The mantua is a front-opening gown, while the robe de cour is back opening.
Court mantua, 1740-45 // Robe de cour of Sofia Magdalena of Sweden, 1766
The train. The court mantua’s train was an evolution of the carefully folded one from the late 17th century mantua. On the other side, the robe de cour’s train was long and simply gathered at the waist, it could also be visible only from the back, or could seem like an overskirt at the front.
Court mantua, 1750s // Wedding gown of Princess Sophia Magdalena of Denmark for her marriage to Crown Prince Gustav of Sweden in 1766
The front. The mantua has a clear square neckline, while the robe de cour has a deep round neckline, sometimes decorated by lace.
English court mantua, 1755-60 // Robe de cour coronation dress of Queen Lovisa Ulrika of Sweden, 1751
nude slip dresses are OUT for fall 2021… the mantua is IN!
i want to look like an absolute wedding cake when i step outside (if i can fit through my front doorway, that is)!
i want to be PILED with lace and embroidery!
who cares about a ‘bikini body’… if my butt isn’t the shape of a massive rectangle, i don’t want it!
who needs pockets when you can fit, like, 3 people, 2 dogs, a pony, and your immense ego (due to looking so fabulous, ofc) under your skirt?
forget the kardashians, i’m taking my fashion inspo from marie antoinette now!
in conclusion: the mantua was a GREAT look and i have NO idea why we as a society ever let it fall out of favor. ok, ok, it might have had something to do with the massive skirts restricting mobility & catching on fire easily, but still. bring back mantuas 2k21!
• Mantua.
Date: ca. 1732 (weaving), 1735-1740 (sewing), 1870-1910 (altered)
Place of origin: Spitalfields (weaving); Great Britain (sewing)
18th century Mantua decorated with 10lb worth of silver thread.
Mantua, c. 1740-1749
from the Victoria and Albert Museum
Mantua, c. 1727-1736
from The Victoria and Albert Museum