January to May are busy months for my work as an International Corporate Travel Director. I am self-employed and free-lance offering services to various industry partners and planners who organise incentive travel, corporate getaways, meetings, and international sporting events. I am often attending conferences, working on speaking engagements, consulting, giving workshops and training. This winter due to global political changes much of my corporate work was cancelled from January to May.
I thus took this quiet time travel for myself, and spend time learning.
First it was the incredible Cartier Exhibit at the V & A October and November, Kensington Palace’s “Dress Codes” exhibition in late 2025. More on these two later. It was followed by Marie Antoinette Style once again at the V & A. . In April and October 2026 it will be the much anticipated Queen Elizabeth II Her Life in Style which begins on what would have been our late Queen’s 100th birthday.
As you may guess London is my most beloved city in the world. I live London like a Londoner and know her very well. Though I learn new aspects of London ever time. I have lived, worked and travel to London several times in the year. Often my base or connection city. London’s museums well known and not know are exceptional. The Victoria and Albert is one of my many favourites.
London’s Victoria and Albert Museum Marie Antoinette Style exhibition dedicated to the French queen’s fashion, personal taste, and enduring cultural influence. This exhibition moves beyond myth and excess, presenting Marie Antoinette as a woman who understood the power of image, craftsmanship, and self-expression long before modern celebrity culture, Instagram influencer, branding, PR managers, or spin doctors.
She revolutionized 18th-century fashion by championing a lighter, more natural, and personal aesthetic, moving from stiff court formality to softer fabrics, pastels, floral motifs, and simpler gown styles (like the chemise à la reine), influencing all of Europe and breaking rigid court codes, though her extravagance also fueled public resentment. She popularized less structured dresses like the robe à l’anglaise , challenging the elaborate court gowns and sparking controversy.
Photo credits: Ruby Roy
A Journey Through a Queen’s Wardrobe
Versailles, is where Marie Antoinette (1755–1793) defined luxury, silhouette, and spectacle. The exhibition brings together approximately 250 objects tracing the arc of her stylistic evolution.
Necklace and jeweled elements displayed in the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition, highlighting the refinement and craftsmanship of 18th-century court adornment.
Rare Survivors: Objects That Belonged to Marie Antoinette
Rare, clearly labelled objects that actually belonged to Marie Antoinette were the highlight of the exhibition. So many personal items were pillaged or destroyed during the French Revolution that the survival of these pieces feels extraordinary.
Seeing these objects up close, reminds us that behind the myth and scandal was a young woman deeply engaged in crafting her image through style. She also loved gardening and music, revealing a quieter, more personal side often overshadowed by court spectacle.
More Than Just Pretty Dresses
Marie Antoinette’s wardrobe functioned as personal expression, political statement, and cultural currency. Towering hairstyles, embroidered silks, fans, and perfume bottles all demonstrate how fashion operated as soft power at Versailles and with allies.
Versailles was notoriously unsanitary, with poor plumbing and limited bathing with too many people at court. Strong perfumes were used to mask the pervasive stench of daily life. The V&A even recreates these historical aromas, offering visitors an unexpectedly immersive sensory experience. A interesting shock to the senses.
The Queen as Muse: Influence Through the Ages
Marie Antoinette’s fashion legacy did not end with her tragic death. Designers have returned to her aesthetic for centuries, drawing inspiration from her pastel palettes, rococo detailing, and dramatic silhouettes.
Visiting Marie Antoinette Style is like discovering a thread that connects the lavish world of Versailles to the runways and fashion houses of the 21st century. From delicate jewelry to grand silhouettes, the exhibition shows that Marie Antoinette’s influence truly endures — lingering long after you leave the museum’s galleries.
In January 2026 I will be taking several art course with experts one of them with V & A. One is on Symbolism in Art.
I am an experienced travel professional offering both corporate, leisure, luxury, concierge, speaking and consulting services in travel. For more information, visit my website: https://www.rubyroy.ca/other-services/
I hope this inspires you to travel and discover art.
Thank you for subscribing to by website, vlogs, blogs and socials.
