If you are studying Austrian or French history, you would have come across the famous Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. This lady led a tragic but interesting life so there has been many movies made about her. The best known movie was in 2006 by an award winning director, Sofia Coppola. The film starred Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette. Marie Antoinette was also well known as a leader of fashion and styles of the time, so it is not surprising to see many Marie Antoinette costumes, wigs or other accessories in retail stores. There are lots of people who like to dress up as Marie Antoinette at costume parties.

Shopping for Marie Antoinette Costumes

In order to choose the best costume to dress up as Marie Antoinette, it is good to know history. By seeing lots of Marie Antoinette portraits, you will learn about what kind of dresses and costumes to find. To dress like Marie Antoinette, you will need a dress, a tall wig that is usually worn by Marie Antoinette, shoes, a fan and other accessories depending on the event you are dressing up for.

Who was Marie Antoinette?

Marie Antoinette was an Archduchess of Austria as well as Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, and of Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria. When she was fourteen, on the day of her marriage to Louis-Auguste, Dauphin of France, she became Dauphine de France. As soon as Louis XV passed away, in May of 1774, young Louis-Auguste became Louis XVI, and teen Marie Antoinette became the Queen of France and of Navarre. After seven years of marriage, she finally gave birth to a daughter, Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte de France, who was the first of their four children. Marie Antoinette was not loved by the French people. Eventually, she was beheaded.

Books and Movies on Marie Antoinette

There are many novels and books on Marie Antoinette. Some are more true than others. The best known book about Marie Antoinette was written by Antonia Fraser. This version of the life of the tragic queen of France was made into one of the most famous Marie Antoinette movies directed by Sofia Coppola. A popular book telling the story of Marie Antoinette is called the Private Realm of Marie Antoinette.