This week's report, May 31, 2026

They inspired the one and only dress in our Spring-Summer collection: enter Catherine and her niece Marie de Medici. Also on their resume: undisputed queens of the Renaissance.

Catherine and Marie had several things in common:

• both were of Italian origin
• both became queens of France through their marriages, to Henry II and Henry IV respectively
• both served as regent of the kingdom while their heirs were minors

In other words, they were two women of power, as well as two patrons who profoundly influenced French art and culture during the Renaissance.

They commissioned works, thereby providing financial support to many artists. The poets Pierre de Ronsard and Joachim du Bellay, along with the painters François Clouet and Rubens, were among the beneficiaries of royal generosity. They also undertook major architectural projects:

• Catherine had the Tuileries built;
• Marie had the Luxembourg Palace and its gardens built, which happen to be… just a stone’s throw from 15 rue Racine!

From a “dress” perspective, unsurprisingly, both women are shown in majestic attire.

At Bourgine, we humbly reinterpreted and adapted the silhouette of the court dress. The front echoes the traditional shape of the bodice and ornamental busk—that is, the central section that comes down to a point over the stomach.

Worth noting: at the time, sleeves were often interchangeable. A lady of rank did not own just one dress, but a collection of sleeves. We loved the idea, so we gave our Médicis dresses detachable sleeves. Wow!

From the hand of your dressmaker,

Addendum: this was the final letter prepared by Romane, whose writing work this year has been so remarkable that she has been poached by big capital — Sézane. We will miss her, but are delighted to see her grow.

Thank you, Romane, and bravo!