'The Prince and the Dressmaker' is one endearing, adorable, cartoony fabric strip of historical romance fiction, about a poor dressmaker with big dreams and a crossdressing Belgian prince, set in aristocratic 19th century Paris, France.
I love Sebastian, the young flamboyant prince wanting to fulfil his duties as the future king of his people. But who would accept a king who likes to wear dresses? He's just so funny and lovable, as both a prince and as his alter ego, Lady Crystallia - socialite and hottest fashion icon in Paris, and I want to keep him. His dialogue, as full of anachronisms as that of the other characters', is hilarious. His many facial expressions are gold.
Sebastian has as much of an eye for fashion as his new seamstress, Frances, whom his relationship with nicely and subtly develops throughout the graphic novel, going further than the typical poor girl x royalty, Cinderella-fairy tale (Frances doesn't need to change outwardly).
As the story progresses, it it clear Sebastian has a tragic side to him as well; as an unconventional product of two worlds refusing to align; refusing to be happy for him for who he is, for what makes him happy. Prince Sebastian is the book's best written character, in my opinion.
His relationship with his father, a highly masculine figure, is one of the best father-and-son stories I've seen: starting out worryingly cliché, then growing into a feature encompassing far more depth, culminating in one of the best endings I've ever seen. In fact, Sebastian's relationship with both his parents is fantastically written; concluding in something that is unpredictable, and, to top it off, hopeful enough to make one cry with relief, absurd as that might sound.
It's worth noting that it is hinted that the consummate dressmaker and designer, Frances, starts developing feelings for Sebastian, blossoming from friendship, when she first sees him dressed as Lady Crystallia, upon his first night out as a transvestite-in-hiding. She is seeing him as his true self, uninhibited, happily free from society's expectations, and she is drawn to him as much as she is to designing radical new dresses. The times when she does instigate her romantic attraction to him are when he is Lady Crystallia. Gender as an identity is as fluid as sexual identity. Frances's feelings are just the way they are; her sexuality is ambiguous. Same goes for Sebastian.
A favourite line of mine comes from Frances: "I'd rather take my chances starting over than languish in your closet forever."
'The Prince and the Dressmaker' is a simple love story, content aside, narrated naturally in the flow - in the petal pink and orchid road - full of lovely, funny and expressive artwork.
P.S: Frances also develops a female friendship with her hero, the famous ballet dress designer, Madame Aurelia, and there are no catty females in sight, thank heavenly renaissance garments! One of the book's symbols is also a room key.
After reading this soft, sparkly gem, I decided that it didn't matter that a few side characters are forgotten about, and a few arcs are left unresolved. 'The Prince and the Dressmaker' is, overall, a rosy, lavish, elegant, stylish and substance-ish, cute, lighthearted comic that can be finished in an hour - an hour to win your heart.
A joy, a delight, a comfort, a beacon of hope, a worthy collector's item, far from a farce.
Final Score: 4/5
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