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Pre-scriptum: We warmly recommend visiting Les Gens de Paris during its final week at the Musée Carnavalet.
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You will find yourself surprised again and again by the city — and, by the end of the exhibition, you may come face-to-face with your own ancestors: the museum grants access to the 1931 and 1936 census records simply by entering your name.
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That's how Caroline discovered that, in the 1930s, her grandfather and great-grandparents were living at 5 rue Émile Duclaux, in the 15th arrondissement.
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That very same grandfather, in 1940, made his way to… 15 rue Racine, to have his thesis printed.
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That day, Rue Racine must have looked very much like this:
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| Rue Racine from Boulevard Saint-Michel, with the Gibert bookshop newly established. |
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Speaking of Paris dwellers... Adored by brides, worn by music stars, and cherished by 15 rue Racine devotees, the Joséphine blouse more than deserves a whole bulletin dedicated to her.
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The blouse debuted at Bourgine in Spring–Summer 2019, in a collection inspired by the Incroyables & Merveilleuses — that charmingly extravagant fashion movement of the Directory period, in late 18th-century France (as everyone knows).
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Madame Tallien — celebrated salonnière and one of the famed Merveilleuses — by François Gérard, circa 1804
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Chine — now our graphic designer — was the very first to wear it.
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The blouse is named after Joséphine de Beauharnais, Empress of the French from 1804 to 1809, during the years of her marriage to Napoleon I.
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Portrait of Joséphine, by François Gérard, 1801
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Much like us, Joséphine was into fine attire, as shown by the grand coronation ensemble she displayed in 1804.
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Empress Joséphine in coronation dress, painted by François Gérard, 1807–1808
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| For this momentous event, she wore a silhouette emblematic of the First Empire devised with her favorite dressmaker Hippolyte Leroy: a high-waisted gown with a column skirt, finished with so-called ‘balloon’ sleeves. These could be long or short, in silk or satin, with or without lace. |
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Portrait of Empress Joséphine, by Andrea Appiani, 1807
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| An instant success among French ladies: |
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As for the fabric, we chose cotton gauze — for in the 19th century, the other great fashion innovation was lightness. Joséphine is said to have loved lace chemises, gold-embroidered court coats, cashmere shawls, and the most delicate muslins. Naturally, Bourgine took note:
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Surely the Empress, like Caroline's grandfather, would have fancied a visit to 15 rue Racine today… we’re open Sundays.
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Post-scriptum: Consider pairing it with Souliers Dulion for a higher tribute to Ms de Beauharnais. She owned 685 souliers, we're celebrating the sale of our 100th pair this week, so it's high time you acquired at least one.
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