Hello,
What is a lavallière ribbon and how did this name originate?
Thanks to historical coincidences, a neck ribbon in 19th-century France came to be called a lavallière. It received this name from Louise de La Vallière – the first official mistress of King Louis XIV of France, who never actually wore such an accessory.
Louis XIV, who ruled for nearly 73 years (still holding the title of the longest-reigning monarch), had several royal mistresses during his long reign, but the first among them was the charming and educated Louise de La Vallière.
The story of Louise de La Vallière, like that of many other mistresses who were once at the heights of society and later forgotten, would not be exceptional were it not for her personal style and, most importantly, the way she lived after leaving Versailles.
After her relationship with the king ended and she departed Versailles, she devoted herself to religion, became a Carmelite nun, and spent the next 36 years of her life in ascetic prayers.
Furthermore, to the surprise of many contemporaries, she authored an influential book of religious reflections, Réflexions sur la miséricorde de Dieu ("Reflections on the Mercy of God"). The fact that a former royal mistress could write such a work led to unsuccessful attempts, even centuries later, to question her authorship.
This life story full of contradictions – romantic, yet belonging to a woman who did not fit into the fiercely competitive and luxury-soaked world of Versailles and later became a devout nun – became an inspiration for 19th-century Parisian bohemians several centuries later.
Alongside other factors, a major push to the image of Louise de La Vallière and a revived interest in her was given by Alexandre Dumas's hugely successful novel Louise de La Vallière (one of the parts of "The Three Musketeers" cycle), published in installments between 1848 and 1850.
Evolution of the lavallière ribbon in fashion history
In 19th-century Paris, inspired by Romantic ideas, these indirect stylistic connections spilled over to the neck ribbon, which at that time symbolized resistance to strict social norms and the pursuit of freedom. The popular lavallière ribbon became a kind of uniform for creative women breaking stereotypes.
Despite the fact that Louise de La Vallière herself did not wear a neck ribbon (women's shirts with ribbons had not yet been invented in those times, and 17th-century dress fashion was different), in many of her surviving portraits she can be seen wearing dresses decorated with a soft neckline that were relatively simple by the Versailles standards of that era.
The first editor of Vogue magazine often wore blouses with such a ribbon, and for the famous writer Colette it became an integral part of her image.
Lavallière ribbons became part of a broader wave of looser linen shirts fashion of that era, popularized by Romanticism superstars like Lord Byron.
However, while the loose-fitting, billowing shirts reminiscent of the poet or pirate look eventually became niche, the ribbon remained widely used – over the years, only its symbolic meaning changed. For instance, in the second half of the 20th century, blouses with ribbons were favored by influential women seeking to "soften" their image, such as Margaret Thatcher.
In this letter, we have selected three linen blouses that embody certain elements of 19th-century Romanticism aesthetics – ribbons, wide silhouettes, and other details characteristic of this period.
All women's shirts by Lithuanian designers
Ballooned and bow-tied
This blouse is a combination of a classic front-buttoned style and several elegant, style-elevating details: long, puffy balloon sleeves and a large ribbon that adds romantic elegance.
Made from 100% organic linen. The fabric is medium-weight, pre-washed, and softened.
You can choose this blouse from a very wide range of sizes – from XS to XXXL.
With ribbon
THREE IDEAS: massive discounts
Due to various reasons – last items, remaining stock from discontinued collections, and others – you can purchase some excellent quality items from Lithuanian creators with discounts greater than 50%.
- Black long dress (silk and cotton blend) with shoulder straps and side slits
- Light yellow mid-season raincoat
- Butterfly-shaped silver ring with a pearl
Fluttering whiteness
In this one-size-fits-all 100% linen blouse, design details reinterpret the classic shirt silhouette.
By combining a relaxed, flared silhouette, an elongated back, and side slits, the blouse acquires a charming distinctiveness.
White shirt
Bamboo or linen? Comparison of fabric properties
Fabrics made from bamboo are like a soft, less wrinkle-prone version of linen. Like linen, bamboo is exceptionally breathable, hypoallergenic, and absorbs and evaporates moisture particularly fast. Therefore, linen and bamboo blends provide all the valued benefits of linen.
In Japan and other Asian countries, bamboo has been used since time immemorial for weaving shoes, hats, and certain garments. The idea of using bamboo fiber for textiles developed later – around the mid-19th century, but the process was only successfully commercialized in the 2000s.
Therefore, linen and bamboo blends offer all the benefits of linen that we appreciate, but the fabric itself is less prone to wrinkling, softer, and drapes more beautifully.
Pastel pinkness
In this classic-cut shirt, subtlety takes center stage.
The pink color is very close to white, yet retains a characteristic individuality. Expressed in a linen and cotton fabric with a subtle natural sheen, it becomes even more charming.
Linen-colored shirt
