Juliette et Justine at the Tea Party Club

One particular highlight of the Tea Party Club's 5th anniversary event I attended earlier this montth was a spectacular fashion show featuring Juliette et Justine designs amongst the gorgeously atmospheric setting of the Charing Cross Guoman Hotel. The lovely models were volunteers from the guests attending and they did such an amazing job!
Lolita fashion very much looks to the past for inspiration and I love the luxurious extravagance from centuries past seen in Juliette et Justine garments, mixing subtler pieces with an OTT classic lolita style. The Rococo and Victorian eras in fashion play key roles in lolita but in the Q&A at the event I believe head Juliette et Justine designer Mari Nakamura said her favourite periods in art were the 16th and 17th centuries, so as well as Marie Antoinette we can spot the regal Queen Elizabeth I amongst the prints.
Not only fashion but Fine Art is very much present in these designs and Nakamura loves the idea of wearing a beautiful masterpiece. I'm lucky to have an incredible artist for a father and art history was always present in my childhood so I've grown up into something of an art geek and absolutely love whiling away the hours in galleries. It's fun to play 'spot the artwork' but the paintings in these prints are used so tastefully they're hard to resist and create such striking pieces.
Some of the looks with a dark glamour, full of exquisite lace and flounces, reminded me of the iconic alluring women seen in Spanish painter Goya's 18th century portraits. As ever with lolita I adore the sweet Rococo inspired pastel frills and bows perfect for lounging at Versailles with tea and macarons, but what I really love about Juliette et Justine is the vast breadth of art history living in these supremely elegant clothes.