MARIE ANTOINETTE'S STYLE THAT SPARKED A REVOLUTION

Just as “Marie Antoinette Style” at the Victoria & Albert was opening, the streets of Manila were filling up with protests against corrupt politicians echoing what revolutionists in 18th century France were demanding to be done with their queen: “Off with her head!”

- RICKY TOLEDO & CHITO VIJANDRE

John Galliano for Dior, AW 2000-2001 "Let Them Eat Cake!" dresses by Jeremy Scott for Moschino. 2021 Modern interpretations of panniered dresses by Vivienne Westwood and Alessandro Michele for Valentino (Haute Couture Spring 2025)

(@rickytchitov)

The exhibit is timely as the world's ruling classes are generating opprobrium for their display of wealth amid widespread poverty and steepening inequality. Our Asian neighbors have also taken to the streets over government abuses: Indonesian protests have turned to full-blown violence; Nepali demonstrators even burned the residences of erring political leaders, sparked by the social media flexing of nepo babies who post images of their luxury items like a Christmas tree of branded shoes — not unlike the OOTDs of our own local versions which have been reposted by netizens with dollar totals to match.

At the exhibit, we spotted a pair of teenage Chinese tourists who were dressed like the ill-fated French queen, walking reminders for their agricultural chief on trial for bribery (he has just been sentenced to death.) The duo couldn't have been more perfect against the opening display: a portrait of Marie Antoinette at age 14 when she was betrothed to the future Louis XVI. Underneath her image is a quote from her mother, Maria Theresa, telling her daughter on that occasion: "All eyes will be on you."

And they have, indeed, as the show explores her life and style, from that moment till today. Dress is certainly a potent tool of expression and a recorder of history with all its social and political indicators. Maria Theresa made sure of that, gifting her daughter with a wedding dress that spoke highly of the Austrian court, affirming that her daughter was the perfect match: a dazzling silver gown with a profusion of diamonds. From then on, every aspect of her dress and appearance would be scrutinized, discussed and copied.