French Revolution Fashion

‘Outline the new fashion for woman after the French Revolution, and contextualize it within the creative culture of this period’

The French Revolution was one of the most important events in the human history, it was a violent reaction against the pomp and magnificent of the kings court in Versailles where the nobles dissipated extraordinary amount of money in frivolity regardless the serious financial crisis outside the court. The revolution profoundly alterated the course of modern history and brought a new belief in freedom. Lots of changes have occurred as a result, the political power over the country moved form the old aristocracy to the new class of the bourgeoisie. With this deep changes people started to create their own personal

However most women continued to wear something on their heads outdoors. Hat or bonnets with high crowns and wide brims made of straw and stiffened fabric became popular. They were tied under the chin by wide satin ribbons and adorned with feathers and ribbons. Conservative married women continued to wear linen mobcaps. Oriental inspired turbans were also very popular. This influence of the Oriental fashion, in particular Turkey, was motivated by commercial and diplomatic contacts with the Middle East.
Before the revolution high heeled shoes were very popular, but fell out of fashion straight after. Flat-soled shoes were the most fashionable style throughout the Empire period. For the eveningwear were usually made out of delicate silk decorated with small rosettes and tied with ribbons. These shoes were fragile and could not be worn outdoor. Woman of wealth had several pairs of each style. Grecian style sandals were also very popular for daytime and some evening wear, and often laced up to the calf to the knee with long leather

Gloves also kept the skin of the hands pale, no woman wanted to have tanned hands as if they were working in the sun. for evening wear, gloves reached to the elbow or just above it, whilst day time wrist-length gloves were worn. Muffs were still being utilized, they were made of fur or plush, which is a very deep pile velvet.
Soon after the revolution real gemstones were hidden or had been destroyed, inexpensive semi precious gems, set into metal that feigned gold, substituted jewels. The crafts people who worked in this material were called bijoutiers to differentiate them from crafts people who worked with precious metal and stone. After Napoleon’s coronation and the return of court life to France, real jewels began to be seen again on nobility. A new trend in jewelry created during this period was the cameo. The cameos of this period were primarily made of conch shell, porcelain and semi precious