What to wear to a Masquerade Ball?

Tickets are booked, plane seats are reserved, and your luxury hotel in Paris awaits your arrival: it is happening, you are going to a masquerade ball party in Versailles! (or wherver else on eath !). The city of lights, a glass of champagne, dancing under the moonlight… get ready for a once in a lifetime experience.

One question remains: what are you going to wear to your masquerade ball? Fashion is not to be taken lightly at the King’s court. We got you covered: just follow the guide!

Still alive today, masquerade balls are a celebration of mystery and fantasy. Practically a live performance, the masked ball is definitely a game in which each guest plays its own role. The compulsory wearing of a mask, underlining the ball’s enigmatic side, gives these festivities a sensual connotation: what happens under a mask, stays under a mask.

A good masquerade ball obeys a whole set of codes and internal references that you must conform to. The most famous one perhaps is a classic: the mask. Whether a simple domino mask or a more elaborate venetian mask, it is key to partake in this intricate game of hide and seek.

Although masks are the core element of the eponymous masked ball, concealing your face does not mean hiding completely. Quite the contrary, the mask is used to send a message about yourself during the party. The object itself becomes the bearer of mystery and mysticism: the perfect mask allows you to reinvent yourself for the night, while staying true to your style.

Playfulness is the core of a masquerade ball, whether you decide to guess the identity of the other guests or to reveal oneself piece by piece!

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.