 |
| Image source: pinterest.com |
Louis XIV, who died in 1715, loved being a fashion icon (before his conservative turn in old age). With his massive wigs, red-heeled shoes, and fabulously expensive and intricately stitched clothing, Louis XIV was the antithesis of practicality. His obsession with fashion, which trickled down to every fawning aristocrat at Versailles, gave the industry tremendous power, and also gave rise to trade guilds that came to dominate the business, even today. It was during the 18th century that fashion effectively became part of French law, business, and culture.
Giant balloons and hair styles
Probably the biggest and most ludicrous example of an inspiration for French fashion at the time was the hot air balloon, which was invented by the Montgolfier bothers. What might have seemed like an outrageous source of art, the hot air balloon became a leading trend in hair style. Elle a l’air d’une mongolfière ! [She looks like a hot air balloon]
 |
Image source: pinterest.com
|
Fashion was so dominant in 18th century France that revues were printed and distributed on a weekly basis. Even if the number of subscribers was quite low, these publications made their rounds among the higher classes, and accelerated French fashion styles.
The waste of clothing
Despite its expense, fashionable clothing quickly become outdated, was discarded or given away a near-weekly basis by some of the wealthiest fashion plates. And this was even true of some the accessories. This fickleness and capriciousness made the best milliners and other clothes-makers richer than many other trades people.
Andrew Curran, Ph.D., is a member of the Romance Languages and Literatures Department and is currently on the board of Critical Philosophy of Race and Diderot Studies. He is a language and humanities professor at Wesleyan University. For more on Dr. Curran and his work, go to thissite.
