Despite the fact that we are no longer able to physically experience the magnificence of 18th-century fashion, we are fortunate that many painters of the era have left us with the answer to the question of how people dressed in the era.
We are able to visually comprehend and enjoy the important fashions of their age because of their artistic depictions. The way people dressed at the time was very exceptional and had a unique impact on the history and evolution of fashion. At the turn of the century, clothes with sleek, angular designs were all the rage. It was preferred to have a simple, unadorned style. The wife of King Louis XIV, Françoise d’Aubigné, had a significant effect on this fashion.
But, not long after her death, the fashion landscape shifted dramatically. Women initially wore the robe manteau, which subsequently gave way to the more elegant robe volantes and finally the robe à la française. Additionally, lace and ribbons were added to the baroque-era garments. Women started dressing in more vibrant ways as the years went by, and pants improved in comfort. Rococo had a significant influence on fashion during the start of the second half of the 18th century, which focused heavily on silk materials embellished with bows. Marie Antoinette’s attire later in the era began to influence fashion.
The fashion rose to prominence in the eighteenth century. Everyone, from royals to commoners, was obsessed with dressing and looking good. The following are the basic features of clothing and fashion in France during the eighteenth century.
Marie Antoinette left behind an enduring legacy of bravado, but it was Louis XIV, who governed in the 17th century, who firmly fastened the outline; the red heels on his shoes would live on in perpetuity. He had an extreme penchant for expensive and fashionable items and thought that prioritising such goods made good business sense. The size, influence, and productivity of the French fashion sector increased.
King Louis established a system of trade groups and structured the industry’s standards, rules, and structure. Unions that offered society and power arose quickly in the fashion industry.
With their feathers, flowers, ribbons, lace, jewellery, fruit, and other trinkets, the iconic pouff hairstyles of the era were intended to reflect significant personal and cultural events, as well as significant social and political events like the American Revolution. They weren’t just meant to look cool or show off their wealth. Men’s waistcoats, fans, and even gowns were all in style.
To create unique items, people would collaborate with hat manufacturers, dressmakers, and occasionally even fabric dealers. With the association system in place, marchandes de modes gained power because, contrary to the rule that dressmakers could only shape garments from the same fabric, a marchandes de modes could create garments from any material without sewing them (which was illegal at the time). They provided selections and customizations that attracted a lot of interest.
In 1783, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier, two brothers from France, created the first hot-air balloon. Although a bag of hot air may not seem like a logical source of fashion inspiration, it actually was, with the industry seeking to capitalise on the successful new design. Even the term “montgolfière” was adopted for hair styling.
The milliners, or hat makers, played a crucial part in defining and advancing 18th-century fashion, playing a key role in both. To place their hairstyles in a certain era, they gave them topical titles. When a new trim or accessory was introduced to the market, a clock began to tick. This “planned obsolescence,” as Chrisman-Campbell refers to it, gave milliners tremendous control over the sector and guaranteed a constant flow of customers.
Imagine if Vogue were released each week. Even though they only had a small number of wealthy subscribers in the late 1700s, fashion periodicals were able to circulate. Then, servants would keep up with the already quick fashion cycle by reading the most recent news.
Napoleon sought to return to Louis XVI’s era of fashion when he became Emperor in 1804, believing that promoting the sector would boost the nation’s economy. He revived opulent clothing and assisted in reviving a sector of commerce and society that had been decimated during the turbulent years of the French Revolution.
In the 18th century, mourning frequently had more to do with manners than it did with true sadness. When a member of the European royal family passed away, it was usual for the entire court to assume funeral robes for a full year. Black was utilised so frequently in the clothing colour scheme that individuals grew accustomed to it and started to appreciate its usefulness. Black evolved into a common colour for clothing as customs surrounding mourning began to disappear.
The wealthy actually frequently wore second-hand clothing, and many wore items that had been owned twice or even three times previously. Marie Antoinette’s ladies-in-waiting were fortunate to find her hand-me-downs at prominent flea markets, which they would wear or sell. The fact that servants frequently wore the clothes that their masters had recently worn illustrates both the significance and the transience of fashion at the time. The business world was developing quickly.
When the Duchess of Chartres presented Bertin, a milliner, to Marie Antoinette, Bertin quickly rose to prominence as one of Paris’s “it” designers. She even employed maids and a carriage in addition to charging a high rate for her work. Bertin’s rise to life among the royals was a source of debate because he had a lower social background. She stood out since it had previously been forbidden to dress both the queen and other people. Marie Antoinette didn’t insist on exclusivity since she wanted Bertin to be involved in the fashion industry.
In conclusion, fashion played a key role in French society and culture and served as one of the nation’s primary brand images during the eighteenth century. Pret-a-porter and haute couture have French roots. Since the 15th century, French designs have dominated the fashion industry, and the country has produced numerous well-known designers. For more than four centuries, the French fashion industry has worked to develop its reputation for creativity and style. France was one of the most active and creative nations in Western history. For fashionistas, the ever-evolving French clothing culture continues to serve as an inspiration. The inventions of the 18th century continue to inspire modern fashion designers. Today, French people continue to uphold their unmistakable reputation as stylish, fashion-conscious individuals.
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