The ‘Clos Normand’ is one of the two main parts of Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny. It is the first part of the garden that visitors encounter upon entering the property. Located in front of Monet’s house, it spans about one hectare. The garden is arranged in a somewhat formal manner, with pathways dividing it into several squares and rectangles.

Clos Normand is particularly renowned for its floral diversity. Monet planted a myriad of flowers of all kinds, shapes, and colors here. Tulips, daffodils, poppies, irises, roses, and many other flowers find their place in this garden. Monet was heavily involved in the choice of plants and their arrangement, aiming to create harmonies and contrasts of color.

The garden is a true explosion of color from spring to fall, and it served as the backdrop for several of Monet’s most famous paintings. It is in this garden that the artist drew much of his inspiration, and he spent countless hours painting it from various angles and in different lighting conditions.

Thus, Clos Normand represents not just a place of beauty and repose, but also an artistic laboratory for Monet, allowing him to explore the effects of light and color in nature.

THE PERFECT GUIDE

Masquerade balls are the perfect opportunity to take a look back at your history lessons! You will be spoilt for choice: how to choose between a rococo 18th century dress, or an elegant 19th century ball dress?

If you have the chance to attend one of Versailles’s balls, the rule is pretty clear: all attendees must wear a baroque style outfit. Your outfit must then follow historical accuracy, as well as the codes of the masquerade party. Fabric, shape, accessories: what makes the perfect outfit for Versailles’s masquerade balls? Below are our advises:

Depending on the period of your costume (whether Louis XIV, Louis XV or Louis XVI) the recommended shape will not be the same. The easiest way to a flawless performance is to opt for a Louis XV panier skirt. This rococo dress is a staple of the 18th century; under the reign of Louis XV, the « panier » of the skirt is composed of five hoops connected with fabric. This creates a contrast with the bust, which is usually tied by a corset.
Careful! Your skirt must not be round, but enlarged on the sides: the round crinoline does not appear before the middle of the 19th century, far from the baroque effect we are looking for here.

The quality of the dress’s fabric is essential to your own comfort, but first and foremost to the historical accuracy of your outfit.
Going with a plain colored fabric is the safest bet to avoid some gross anachronistic error. However, if you are working with specialized craftsmen, why not have a little fun with the baroque prints on your fabulous masquerade dress?
In any case, steer clear of flashy and neon colors at all costs: don’t forget that chemical dyes did not exist back in the 18th century, so avoid anachronisms with electrical greens or bright blues. The pastel palette is your best friend – you are in luck, they are the most fashionable colors right now anyway.

Regarding the texture of the dress’s fabric, opt for a chic mat satin or silk. The fabric must hold well, for the gown to fold perfectly and elegantly.

Don’t forget the dress decorations: a good baroque dress would not be one without it. Metallic ribbons were highly fashionable back then, so don’t hold back on braids and gallons… in harmony with your look of course!

Men are not left behind when it comes to costumes! Many norms and conventions ruled men’s costumes back in the 17th and 18th century at Versailles. Different styles exist for men, based on Louis XIV, Louis XV or Louis XVI. These three different styles vary in terms of extravagance and colors, from the highly rococo style under Louis XIV to more elegant costumes under Louis XV and Louis XVI. In any case, impeccable costumes with luxury fabrics have always been required at the ball!
You can thus choose nice jerkins and jackets, along with breeches and a waistcoat. The same pastel colors as for the women’s dresses will do great on gentlemen’s costumes – and feel free to decorate! Why not consider harmonizing with your partner, and coming to Versailles with matching costumes ?

Jewels, ribbons, decorations… gorgeous but classy accessories are required at Versailles’s masquerade ball! Go for pearl necklaces and earings, or silver jewelries to embellish your neck, ears and hands… and why not directly onto your hair? A beautiful piece of hair jewels can go a long way!

Even with an extravagant floor length gown, the shoes must not be forgotten! Small heels and lace or satin shoes are always a great choice. Fashion history requires them to be a bit pointy, but most importantly, they have to go with your dress. Men too can wear small heels for the ball, but flat black shoes with a buckle are also a good way to finish a male masquerade ball outfit.

Make sure your ball shoes are comfortable: the nights in Versailles’s gardens are long, and the dances never stop!

How to style your hair and makeup fot the ball?

Powder is not only for your face: you should powder your hair as well! Even though powdering your hair might seem foolish and not so hygienic, it was a very common habit at the time. The goal was to solidify the hair up and to get to the gray coloring that was so fashionable back then.

You can style short hair up to get the required “puffy” style or go for more elaborate hairdos with longer hair. Women’s ball hairdos at the time were known for their crazy creativity: feathers, pearls, insane heights, and even boats or bird cages…

Thus, this is the time to get playful and creative. You can opt for an updo, or a “pouf” like Marie-Antoinette, tied with discreet braids and pins, and accessorize it as you see fit. If you want to wear the elaborate hairdos of these aristocratic ladies without touching your own hair, why not consider an actual wig? Men with shorter hair can use the wig to try new styles, like long hair with ringlets.

In any case, specialized hairdressers in Paris can even help create the perfect style, harmonized with the dress and solid enough to last all night!

Even though the courts of Versailles under Louis XIV and Louis XV were proponents of outrageous makeup, consider instead following the makeup routine of the court superstar Marie-Antoinette.

Indeed, the queen was key in changing makeup fashion in Versailles in the middle of the 18th century. Shocked by the court’s over the top makeup, she brought her simpler, more delicate Austrian fashion to Versailles when she arrived in France to marry Louis XVI. She ended up turning the conventions upside down – revolutionize them, if we dare say so! – taking the place of Madame de Pompadour as the trendsetter.
Makeup was no innocent matter at Versailles: it characterized how you decided to present yourself in front of the King and the court, and a single mistake could be cause for trouble.

Don’t worry, the stakes are not that high today! Yet, the use of powder and blushes is quintessential to the success of a masquerade ball outfit. The two key colors of your makeup palette should be white, for the face overall, and red for your cheeks and lips. Go for light tones, like a soft pink for the cheeks, and a white powder for your skin.

Men too will be wearing makeup on such occasions. Indeed, at Versailles, men used to wear makeup as often as women! The same recommendations apply therefore for gentlemen! Powder your face with a soft but covering white, and don’t be afraid of red cheeks. You can even let your creativity flow with eyeliner or draw-on moles!

What to choose ?

There is no good masquerade ball without a good mask, and many options are available to you here.
The most common mask would be the “domino mask”, or simply called “loup” in France.
The loup is a mask covering the top half of your face made of velvet or black satin, sometimes embellished with lace. One of the preferred accessories of 18th century aristocratic ladies, it was used to preserve the whiteness of their skin when they were outside… or to hide their identity at a masquerade ball.

Look at the photo below: the gentleman on the second stage weares a balck domino mask.

If you feel more extravagant than a simple domino mask, the classic Venetian masks are here for you. Colors, pearls, feathers, glitter: as long as it matches your ball gown, explore this accessory stemming directly from the Italian renaissance. Use one with an elastic band – easier to hold the champagne glasses! – or a more historical one held by a wooden stick, that you can gently place in front of your eyes.
Inspired by the face of a wolf, this Venetian mask ball will make you the most flamboyant and mysterious ball guest.

For a more charming look, a discreet lace ribbon knotted behind your head can also be the perfect mask for one night. It is probably the easiest to wear and to keep on during the night. Go for a beautiful piece of lace, large enough to cover your eyes up to above your eyebrows and the beginning of your nose.

In search for inspiration before diving into the preparations of your masquerade ball? Movies, series, paintings… so many references to inspire your creativity. Consider creating a little inspiration board, whether on Pinterest or by hand, gathering the paintings, movies and photos that you like most. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what you like, what you are looking for, and a nice basis to discuss with the specialist from which you will buy, design or rent your outfit from.
For perfect historical accuracy, old paintings and engravings are inevitable.
Paintings by Alexander Rosling, Jean-François de Troyes, Jean-Baptiste Gautier-Dagoty, Joseph-Siffred Duplessis, Jean-Honoré Fragonard (and so many others!) are filled with ideas and references for masquerade ball gowns, historical dresses, male outfits, makeup and hairdressing.

Other great ideas can be found in many different movies and shows. Even though paintings are more trustworthy in terms of accuracy, movies are a great way to witness these costumes in motion. They are a great way to see what they could actually look like on Versailles’s dancefloor!

Now that you have all the right information comes the most important part: getting your hands on said dress!

Not the cheapest option but maybe the dress of many ladies: you can buy a dress at a costume shop online on Etsy, or at Paris’s specialized shops. Yet, even though they might sell some historically inspired outfits, the quality of the dresses and their historical accuracy are not guaranteed – A lovely and historical dress can cost between 3000$ to 10000$ depending on the quality.  But who wants to show up at the court of Louis XIV in a pirate dress ?

SHOP THE DRESS
Marie Antoinette dress 18th century

Another option is simply to rent your outfit, which will enable you to enter this special night with the perfect, wholly accessorized outfit. Paris is home to the best specialized costume makers and renters, known worldwide for their work in movie or theater costumes.
Book your costume far in advance (at least 6 months), and visit the shop before the ball for last fittings and adjustments. This might be the best solution to feel like in a movie – isn’t it what this night is all about after all?

Going to Versailles’s masquerade ball sure requires a lot of preparation – we wouldn’t expect any less from Queen Marie Antoinette herself. In order for you to fully enjoy this magical night and a fabulous stay in Paris, Paris to Versailles offers different sur-mesure packages for the Versailles masked ball. Partnering with the best of Paris costume renters, Paris to Versailles offers the possibility to rent unique, custom fitted, historical costumes.
From costume preparations with the best renters of the capital, to local guides and special dinner or cocktail accommodation, Paris to Versailles is your own personal concierge for this ball and for your vacation.

Palace of Versailles has always been one of the popular sites for those wishing to enjoy the history of Paris. This city usually plays host to a number of memorable events.

One such event will be taking place at the palace which will result in a visit of art lovers. France will be hosting the artwork wrought by the hands of none other than Olafur Eliasson, lasting from June until October, 2016.

This contemporary artist has taken over the art world with controversial yet culture-inspired ideas. The most famous artworks so far that served only to boost Eliasson’s already inflated popularity were The Weather Project (2003) that took place in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern, London; The New York City Waterfalls (2008); and the Ice Watch in the Place du Panthéon, France that was his last installation. Stressing the importance of culture in shaping the outcome of contemporary art, Eliasson has taken over the world with his controversial yet awe-inspiring work.

Olafur Eliasson: The Weather Project
An epic piece of art that signifies the representations of the sun and sky

The New York City Waterfalls by Olafur EliassonMan-made waterfalls acclaimed as monumental illustration for the city

Olafur Eliasson: Ice Watch ParisAn artistic approach to making people feels the passing time with every bit of it

While some have wondered why he chose Versailles for his art display, many found it not surprising because it was Catherine Pégard, president of Versailles, who actually gave this artist his first ever show in France at the Modern Art Museum of the City of Paris, in 2002.

Afterwards, he also worked on another project, Little Sun—a solar-powered LED lamp with the purpose of providing clean, affordable light to communities without access to electricity for which he received the prestigious World Economic Forum Crystal Award, in January 2016.

Presently, much curiosity is aroused regarding the upcoming project but it is yet to be determined what this genius will come up with.

In an interview, Eliasson pointed out that he may well go in the direction of the show “Baroque, Baroque,” which was held at the Belvedere Museum’s Winter Palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy, in Viennain collaboration with Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary.
He will, however, be amplifying almost everything due to Versailles being so wide. In addition, he speculated that the Renaissance science will provide sufficient background for the creative process.

Therefore, make sure you get your tickets booked on time to arrive at Paris Versailles by train to witness this event.