The Hôtel de Bourrienne: A Living Artistic Legacy
Fortunée Hamelin, owner of the Hôtel de Bourrienne during the Directoire era, made the residence shine through her artistic salons.
She hosted writers, painters, musicians, and thinkers — all driven by a desire to create, to debate, and to challenge convention. These gatherings, often stretching late into the night, were filled with music, laughter, and impassioned conversations. Fortunée, an avid dancer, was at the heart of it all, twirling to the sound of the waltzes she adored. She was even nicknamed the “goddess of the waltz,” so striking was her energy and grace to those who encountered her.
This heritage lives on through Bourrienne Paris X, not only in the shirts it creates, but also through meaningful encounters and creative gestures that continue the tradition.
Bringing heritage to life through dance
In the sunlit rooms of the Hôtel de Bourrienne, and beneath the golden glow of its evening gardens, Ariane and Florian, a contemporary dance couple, breathed life back into the space through a moving performance.
Their bodies in motion whispered what words cannot say: a story woven from intense glances, inhabited silences, and gestures suspended in air, as if weightless. Dressed in white shirts, they seemed to float, both present and fleeting.
Their performance, conceived as a dialogue, swayed between restrained tension and total surrender. A contemporary choreography blending precision and spontaneity, where each movement seemed born in the moment, carried by the light, the architecture, and the soul of the space.
The Art of Gesture
Ariane and Florian approach movement the way an artisan shapes matter: with precision, attentiveness, and humility. Each gesture emerges from the present moment, attuned to the breath of the space, the presence of the audience, the emotions that surface.
Their dance, both structured and fluid, adjusts to the present moment, reaching for a fleeting balance, nearly invisible, yet deeply felt.
The shirts accompanied every turn, every lifted arm, revealing through their simplicity a rare expressive power. More than a costume, they became a statement. A way of saying that sometimes, the essence lies in restraint. The audience, moved, remained silent for a moment. As if something rare had just happened. A perfect gesture. A suspended moment.
Ariane wears the CÉLESTE shirt in size S — designed as a signature piece. Its oversized lavallière collar gives structure to the silhouette, while voluminous sleeves and gathered detailing in the back bring elegance and fluidity to the garment.
Florian wears the CHÂTEAU Lin shirt in size XXL, inspired by romantic historical cuts. Its refined gathers in the back offer generous volume, while the officer collar lends it a quietly sophisticated look.
