You people. You PEOPLE! I know that this happened months ago, but I am only now getting around to writing about it. I wish I could say that the delay was because it was so absolutely magnificent (which it was), but in truth, I simply haven’t had a moment to dedicate to writing about this most excellent of events. As fortune turns out, the lovely and sublime Sarah Lorraine, featured in the picture below (and a total heartbreaker, as you can see) has written up an excellent post on the topic, and I highly recommend you visit her site, as well as watch the video of Jason Schwartzman hosting Cribs at Versailles.

This has been a fantasy of ours for quite some time, though the Palace of Versailles does not normally allow costumed guests on their premises. Here, everyone was required to dress the part, and what a spectacle we made of it.

The official event was split into three parts, interspersed with as much champagne as you could drink and as many snacks as you could fill yourself with, truly an indulgence on both. One part was a tour of some of the more private chambers of Madame du Pompadour or the Princesses. The second part was a musical performance (either sacred or aria), followed by a dance lesson. By the time dancing came around, we were enjoying meeting new costumers and chatting so much that we did not get the chance to participate much. Nonetheless, let me let the pictures do the talking, and you can see for yourself what an incredibly smashing experience it was. What was so amazing about it? Judge for yourself, and you can see yours truly there (c. Thomas Dowrie):

No party would be appropriate without a place to take drinks and food in style, and this was certainly no exception (c. Jérome Verdier):

Certainly, an evening wouldn’t be an evening without a bit of flirting, and Lisa is both a beauty and a gem (c. Kendra van Cleave).

By the way, remember those 18th shoes I recently made? Here they are, in context! (c. Sarah Lorraine)

Here is Leia, looking absolutely smashing (c. Jérome Verdier):

No evening is complete without fireworks (which you cannot see, but take the ladies’ looks for it):

And certainly not complete without over-the-top fops (c. Jérome Verdier):

The entire group of us – in the hall of MIR-RORS! Seriously, just go. The entire cost was worth it not to be stuck back to back with thousands of tourists with selfie-sticks.

Also, lets you think that all we did in France was Versailles, here is the full list:

May 24: Jardins du Luxembourg, Champs Elysee
May 25: Fabric shopping, napping, wine
May 26: Crypt Ancienne, Fesitvale du Pain (bread, not pain)
May 27: Carnavalet, Cluny, Saint Chapelle, Dinner at the Auberge Nicholas Flamel (super cool!)
May 28: Broccante (street market fair)
May 29: Musee de Galleries, Louvre, Vivaldi/Bach concert in Sainte Chapelle
May 30: Versailles ball!!!
May 31: Return to Versailles to visit le Petit Trianon
June 1: Fly home, sad face =(