Marie Antoinette's legendary dressmaker, Rose Bertin, famously poked fun at the British poke bonnet. This playful jab inspired the creation of the Bertin brand featured prominently throughout the magazine. Another spark came during research in late 2023 when the phrase "Big Bonnet" lodged firmly in my imagination, likely borrowed from a period cartoon or etching I regret not saving.

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The next day, experimentation with .ai birthed "Bonnets Bon Ton," pairing striking bonnet designs with Regency dressmakers. The fictional backstory credits Princess Catherine with starting the trend by appearing at Weymouth in a notably large bonnet. The fashion culminates with our curator, S.J. King Esq., commissioning London's leading milliners to craft fantastical interpretations of "Bonnets Bon Ton" for the princess herself.