When deep down a research hole about Russian fashion from 1860 to 1920, I stumbled across the Romanov Russia website, which sells Russian antiques. Not only do they have jewellery and glassware that supposedly belonged to the Romanovs, but it also introduced me to two gorgeous style periods: Art Nouveau and Belle Epoque.
After spending hours… and I mean HOURS looking at gorgeous jewellery on this website (it’s a new addiction), I began searching these styles to give myself a better understanding of the era, fashion and art.
Art Nouveau
Even just looking at jewellery and art from the Art Nouveau era is absolutely stunning. The delicate imagery with soft pastels, defined by strong lines and natural patterns captivate the heart.
The style was popular in Europe between 1890 and 1910. While it didn’t last long, the imagery is so iconic that even art novices like me can recognise and appreciate it.
My focus with Art Nouveau is the gorgeous jewellery, as well as the design aesthetic that contributed to many of Faberge’s most famous pieces, in particular the Lilies of the Valley egg made for Empress Alexandra.
I’ve noticed that the jewellery is characterised by simple, graceful lines and accented by gorgeous jewels. Much like the art style, the jewellery uses natural imagery and lines, something I love for the prevalence of wonderful vines.
Jewels are stunning, though expensive, but so often in Australia the designs are gaudy or boring. These designs are actually inspiring! I know that Sergei gave Ella a ridiculous amount of jewellery when they got engaged, so maybe I’ll make an Art Nouveau piece the only thing she holds onto when she sells it all after his death.
La Belle Epoque
La Belle Epoque was a period of European history that coincided with Art Nouveau, but stretched to a way of life and fashion. It’s said to have lasted from the end of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 to the beginning of Word War I in 1914. It was a period in which art flourished, particularly in France, which is why many of the images I show you may feel French. Belle Epoque symbolised a period of peace and prosperity that shows in the elegant and generous style I’ve been researching.
Belle Epoque was a time in which “European civilization achieved its greatest power in global politics, and also exerted its maximum influence upon peoples outside Europe.”
R. R. Palmer. (2014). A History of Europe in the Modern World.
While the jewellery of Belle Epoque is gorgeous, it’s the artwork that has captivated me the most. I found a Facebook group named La Belle Epoque that posts beautiful paintings and photographs of the time, showcasing its distinct fashion-style and the popularity of oil paintings.
For the first time I actually want to buy paintings! They show a world like a fairytale: corsets, parasols, strolls in the park, elegant hats, evolutionary dresses and grand architecture.
The painting below is one of my favourites!
La Belle Epoque is perfect inspiration for fashion in The Russian Daughters, something I’ve struggled with as I need to inhabit the lives of Grand Duchesses. Aside from photographs and portraits, no doubt expertly crafted to create a certain image, it’s difficult to know what life may have been like for Ella and Alix. What would they have worn? How much would they have indulged in their wealth and status?
From my research, I doubt either was too interested in fortune. Ella, much like her mother Alice, was focused on her philanthropic endeavours—aiding misfortunate women, assisting in hospitals and supporting orphans.
Alix remained secluded for much of her adult life, as her failure to produce an heir was one of various reasons why the Russian people disliked her. She was often called ‘the German’ for her heritage, and blamed for her son’s haemophilia (as it ran in the British Royal family). With such censure in public life, I doubt Alix would have been indulgent in her private life.
That said, every Grand Duchess seemed to have a soft spot for a bejewelled cross.
The Russian Daughters 