L'Habit de Fete - Bee Bottle 160 Year Anniversary 2013

L’Habit de Fête stands as a resplendent tribute to Guerlain’s 160-year legacy and the iconic Abeille flacon. Created in 2013 as part of a special series celebrating this milestone, the piece is a collaboration with nine of France’s most esteemed Maîtres d’art, each given full freedom to interpret the Bee bottle as a work of unparalleled artistry. Among them, Sylvie Deschamps, a master of luxurious gold thread embroidery, brought her meticulous craft to life by designing an exquisite haute couture “party dress” to envelop the one-litre bottle. The result is a breathtaking combination of couture, craftsmanship, and storytelling, where every stitch and embellishment conveys both history and celebration.

 

The bottle’s covering is fashioned as an imperial coronation robe, a symbolic gesture highlighting grandeur, ceremony, and festivity. Raised patterns of festoons and sixty-nine bees are rendered in 24-carat varnished gold cannetille thread on a sheer white organza sheath, their lustrous surfaces capturing and reflecting light in subtle, jewel-like flashes. The bees’ wings are gilded with gold leaf, and fine gold powder is delicately sprinkled between them to mimic the shimmering pollen of a flowering meadow, creating a sense of life and movement. The embroidered label follows heraldic tradition, featuring an imperial crown and bee atop a shield, crossed swords beneath, and twin dates marking the 160th anniversary—a meticulous interplay of history and artistry.

The stopper, dressed in the same ethereal organza, is embroidered with a majestic Queen Bee, a regal figure presiding over the composition with dignity and authority. Even the neck of the bottle is encased in gold thread, meticulously applied by the Guerlain “Dames de Tables” craftswomen, connecting centuries-old techniques with contemporary design sensibilities. On display at the Maison Guerlain on the Champs-Élysées from December 2013 to February 2014, L’Habit de Fête was also highlighted in Guerlain’s Exclusive Line Doors photo and video exhibitions, illustrating the House’s dedication to craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation.

This creation transforms the Bee bottle into a luxurious artifact, where the tactile richness of embroidery, the radiance of gold, and the symbolic iconography combine to evoke celebration, opulence, and the timeless beauty of Guerlain’s legacy. L’Habit de Fête is not merely a perfume vessel but a masterful union of haute couture and artisan skill, embodying both the spirit of festivity and the artistry of French craftsmanship.