Discovering the magic behind handmade costumes, palace parties, and living history at France’s most enchanting masquerade ball
At Welcome to Versailles, we love featuring the creatives, dreamers, and visionaries who help bring the Château de Versailles to life each summer at the Grand Bal Masqué. This week, we’re thrilled to spotlight Tara Lengyel, a talented photographer and costume creator whose incredible handmade creations and artistic spirit have made her a standout attendee at the ball for nearly a decade. If you’re looking on an overview of what the Grand Masked Ball is like, click here.
Meet Tara Lengyel: The Artist Behind the Magic
Tara is not just a costume visionary—she’s also the creative force behind The Veil (www.theveil.fr), a photography brand that captures elegant and dreamlike moments across France. Based in Paris, she brings her artistic sensibilities into every element of her work, from handmade ball gowns to beautifully staged portraits.
“I am not a professional designer. I’m actually a professional photographer, video maker,” Tara explains. “I have been asked to be a professional costume maker for many film productions. I like to say that it’s my passion. So I don’t like to have money be made out of it, just because I feel like if it was, I would lose my passion for it a bit. But yeah, I just have always been interested in making costumes. I’ve been making costumes from a really young age.”
From Toronto to Paris: A Love Story with France
Originally from Toronto, Canada, Tara’s journey to France began with her master’s degree studies. As she puts it with characteristic humor: “I came to France for my master’s degree, and then I met a boy on Tinder and got married and never left. I have been here since 2013.”
Her introduction to the Grand Bal Masqué came through word of mouth: “Basically the first time I heard about the ball, I forget who mentioned it to me, but someone was like, yes, there’s this crazy ball that happens over in Versailles every year. And me and my friend, who were both so obsessed with Sophia Coppola and thus Mary Antoinette, were like, we absolutely have to go.”
A Modern Take on Historical Elegance
What sets Tara apart from other ball attendees is her unique approach to costume design. Rather than renting traditional period pieces, she creates her own modern interpretations of 18th-century fashion.
“From the instant that we went, we decided to do a more modern take on the ball. Like we were like, Okay, we want to kind of inspired by Sophia Coppola and Mary Antoinette, revisit it under like a modern lens. So all of my costumes have been a little twisted modern, and because I’m not renting them, I can afford to do that.”
Her decision to make her own costumes started from a practical place: “Basically, I chose what I was going to wear out of laziness. I didn’t want to do a rental. I thought it wasn’t modern enough, or it wasn’t a take on what I wanted to do. I really, like I said, I love Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, because there are modern elements in it. And I knew that I wanted to do that with my costume. I also was too lazy to go stand in line and pick up the costume and have to return it the next day. So I was like, you know, what? I’m just going to sew my own dress.”
What began as convenience transformed into an annual tradition of artistic growth: “It started like a series of years, where each year I was trying to outdo what I did the following year and just practice my sewing skills. Sewing is something I love to do, but I’ve never had a lesson. I’ve completely self taught. And so it was just an excuse (like Halloween) to practice costume making and sewing.”
The Magic of Stepping Into Versailles
For Tara, attending the Grand Bal Masqué isn’t just about the costume—it’s about the transformative experience of the venue itself.
“Well, I really loved that it felt like we were stepping back in time. And I really love a theme party when the venue helps elevate the experience. What could be more opulent and over the top than having an actual party at a castle palace? I felt like I was one of the luckiest people in the world to experience a party at a palace, like only some people could dream about those experiences. So I felt very, very lucky.”
The atmosphere at the ball creates a unique sense of community among attendees: “I love looking at what other people have done. It’s always super friendly. People are so happy that you were there and dressed up. And I think there’s just like a feeling of camaraderie and respect for other people who are there because, like you, they have decided to invest a lot of money to coming to this party and this experience, and everyone’s just trying to have a good time.”
Themes, Trends, and Transformations Over the Years
Tara has witnessed the evolution of the Grand Bal Masqué. “I think my first year was 2015, and so it’s been a long time now,” she reflects. While themes aren’t always clearly defined, certain elements have become constants.
“In terms of themes, I feel like none of them have really stuck out as very clear. The first time that I actually really noticed a theme was, I guess, two years ago I there was a space theme with Martians and stuff. So I did notice that and the merpeople have been there every year that I’ve gone. I think there’s been merpeople, so I never thought of that as a theme.”
What consistently impresses her are the performances: “I think every year, regardless, theme or not, the animations have always stuck out to me as being like something that was really, really amazing about the ball, and why I wanted to continue to go back year after year is just I love, especially my theme party for the decoration and the atmosphere to be all in.”
Essential Tips for Future Ball Attendees
The Best Accessory to Bring
“I would say nowadays, the best accessory to bring to the ball would be to bring water. Water has become so expensive there. I actually got an argument two years ago that legally in France, they’re not allowed to charge you for water. So I ended up getting my water for free because I argued with them.”
For practical accessories, Tara recommends: “I always just like to bring, usually some like a fan, because it gets really hot. Last year was very cold, but usually it’s quite, quite hot. So fan elevates your costume and also makes you cooler when you’re in swarms of people.”
Surviving the Night in Style
Footwear is crucial: “Definitely wear flat shoes and hide them under your dress, just because it is a lot of walking around and you can stay out later if you have good shoes on.”
Pacing is key: “I would say pace yourself. I’ll usually have a bottle of champagne before I arrive, so I don’t spend a lot of money and don’t spend a lot of time in the bathrooms, because the bathroom lines are insane.”
Transportation matters: “Making sure that you budget for an Uber or taxi to get you to Versailles, because taking the public transport there already takes a huge chunk of energy out. The best thing to do is to arrive directly to the garden, take the photos, watch the fireworks, sit very leisurely, and then enjoy, enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Hair and Makeup Strategy
“Another tip for partying all night is, I personally never wear a wig, just because I feel like wigs are very hot. So if you have your own hair done in a beautiful way, I think you’ll last longer than futzing with a wig all night. I feel like it inhibits the dancing.
Doing your hair in a very extreme way, does require a bit more work when you get home and get into the shower, it’s always the funniest shower at like 6am rinsing off all of my makeup and undoing a million bobby pins for my hair. But I do think it helps while you’re at the party.”
The Challenge of Getting Tickets
The Grand Bal Masqué has grown significantly in popularity, making tickets increasingly difficult to secure. “It was this year was very difficult. In years past you could get tickets the week before, they never sold out. Now as TikTok has blown up and more tiktokers have gone, it’s become more and more difficult to get tickets. It’s kind of blown up the party for sure.”
Her advice for securing tickets: “Well, now it seems like they’re selling out the day of — usually that’s in November. I always get my tickets now the first day that they go on sale, that’s your best bet for success.”
Photography and Memorable Moments
As a professional photographer, Tara has a strategic approach to capturing the evening: “Yeah, I love to take photos. I mostly take photos before, because I get my hair and makeup done so I want it to look fresh in the photos. And I like to do photos in front of the palace or in the gardens before we go inside. Obviously, I take a lot of video and stuff of the animations, but it’s less about the photos outside. Sometimes I do them by the bonfire, but usually I do them before the event starts.”
Best photo spots: “Outside the palace, by the fountains and inside the gardens, ahead of time.”
Her most memorable moments consistently center around one particular element: “I always love the fireworks. To be honest, I love being outside. I’m obsessed with fireworks, and I love being in costume in the gardens, having that nice moment outside.”
Music and Entertainment Evolution
The musical landscape of the ball has evolved over the years: “Honestly, the music has changed over the years. Some years it’s more electro. Last year was like quite Electro Techno, which I didn’t love. But there’s always some, a few dance hits that everyone can dance to. For sure.”
The performances remain a highlight: “There’s like, a performance every like, I think 30 minutes or so, and some of them are really good. Some of them are on like, opposite sides of the room, so I’m not always, like, fully watching all of them, but yeah, they’re all good.”
Practical Preparation Tips
What to Pack
“Like I said, best thing to have is potentially gum. You’re not allowed to bring water inside, so I don’t think you can bring water. I always pack my sewing kit just in case one of the elements of my costume starts falling apart, which is very, very possible. And yeah, I guess that’s pretty much it, hair pins, anything like that. So that may you might need to, like, fix your look inside.”
Pre-Ball Strategy
“My tips would be to make sure that you eat and drink ahead of time, so that you don’t have to wait in any lines when you get there, the lines for purchasing the tickets for food, and then also the food can get quite long and yeah, just make sure to go over the top and really try on your costume, because people will really appreciate it, and you’ll have a lot of fun inside with people wanting to take photos of you and complimenting you.”
Advice for Aspiring Costume Makers
For those inspired to create their own costumes, Tara offers encouragement: “As I make my own costume, I my advice is: consider sewing your own or at least making your own elements, because it is really gratifying to see something that someone else doesn’t have or someone else didn’t wear.”
She emphasizes the personal satisfaction of creating something unique: “The one thing I would stress is that, like, from my perspective, that it would be more interesting if people made more costumes, and didn’t just rent the same ones every year. I know that they’re historically accurate, but I went from like finding cool corsets and integrating them and sewing every single part of my costume. It becomes like a project itself, to create something to wear. Obviously, it’s a very different route and not as easy, and you need to have lots of free time and love sewing, but that’s just something that I would stress.”
The Inspiration Behind It All
At its core, Tara’s love for the Grand Bal Masqué stems from a simple joy: “What inspired me to attend the ball? I just heard about it, and I, like I said, I really loved the movie Mary Antoinette, just for all the fashion and an opulence and, like, I just love a theme party. Let’s be honest. I’ve gone to many theme parties over the years. So I thought this one was fun because you get to dress like a princess. So that was my inspiration.”
Looking Forward
As for future attendance, Tara’s enthusiasm remains undimmed: “Yes, I would hope to attend. As long as I can be attending, I will attend. I love it. It’s a yearly excuse to make a costume.”
Connect with Tara
To see more of Tara’s photography work, visit her website at www.theveil.fr. Her artistic vision extends far beyond the ballroom, capturing the elegance and beauty of life in France through her unique photographic lens.
The Grand Bal Masqué at Versailles continues to enchant attendees from around the world, offering a rare opportunity to step back in time and experience the opulence of the French court. Through creatives like Tara Lengyel, the tradition of creativity, craftsmanship, and celebration lives on in the very halls where Marie Antoinette once danced.
Have you attended the Grand Bal Masqué or are you planning to attend? We’d love to feature more stories like Tara’s. Reach out to us at [email protected].
