Be Beaux Arts: Medieval Maiden

For this installment of BBA, I have chosen Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Jane Morris (The Blue Silk Dress), 1868. Rossetti was one of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood of the 19th century, a group of artists who borrowed from the styles of the Old Masters, often choosing to paint Medieval subjects. Interestingly, the dresses they chose for their models - deep, saturated colors in silks and velvets - became somewhat of a fashion trend in the 1860s, known as the Artistic or Aesthetic Dress Movement. They were usually loose fitting, with puffed sleeves, and quite plain otherwise. The focus was on the simplicity of form, and the sensual pleasure offered by swaths of luxurious fabric. One was expected to have the same reaction when viewing these stunning works of art, which often featured vivid color, striking contrasts (the play of light and dark, for example), and texture.

So if you want to be the heroine of a Pre-Raphaelite painting, like Jane Morris, you'll need one lovely dress. This Calypso one is perfect, as it just happens to be blue silk, and of course the style of the dress is very simple. Large, ornate earrings hint at a time gone by. Roses frequently made appearances in Pre-Raphaelite paintings, with their many sensual connotations. Lay this gorgeous pink one on your lap, tuck it behind your ear, or insert it into a leather bound journal to keep track of your many dreams.