Décolletage

I was photographing the jewels woman were wearing in paintings completed during Napoleons time as Emperor. (These are a few of the woman in Napoleon's life; his sisters, sister in laws, daughter and wives.)

It was Josephine (Napoleon's first wife) who really made this style of decolletage so popular. I can't think of many people who could pull this look off. I would love to design some pieces for this placement on a garment though! These are brooches for the breast line!

A ribbon or jewel running along the breast bone and then a piece of jewelery. So decorative and daring!

Décolletage: In strict usage the term denoted the neckline, the zone extending about two handbreadths from the base of the neck down. Only after the French Revolution did the décolletage become larger in the front and smaller in the back.

This is pretty low cut. I do love all the extra ribbons and jewels on this dress though!

These are paintings I photographed in Fontainebleau yesterday!

Ludgera, if you are reading this...please leave a comment! We miss you!