Grand Ladies

This is a famous headdress in the form of a fully-rigged naval vessel commemorating a French naval victory in 1778.

From fashionismymuse.blogspot of 14 October 2008. The last paragraph of the posting was:  "...Unfortunately, the pouf also corresponded to a time of bad harvests and harsh winters (1774-75). Appearing at the opera, theatre and parties in her wedding cake-like coiffure, Marie Antoinette flouted her fashion-plate lifestyle in the face of a starving nation. No doubt it was particularly horrifying to hungry peasants that the whiteness of the pouf coiffure came from flour. Popular opinion turned from admiration to distaste and Marie Antoinette's willingness to consider more serious matters was questioned. It was the beginning of the end for this fashion icon."