Eighteenth Century French Fashion Plates In Full Color

Shows and describes a variety of men's and women's clothing and defines terms associated with eighteenth-century dress

Examines European dress as it evolved in 18th-century France. The text looks at French dress first from an aesthetic point of view, describing in detail fashionable and everyday clothes. It then examines the social and economic factors affecting fashion and compares styles in major European cities.

The Galerie des Modes has been called the "most beautiful collection in existence on the fashions of the 18th century." Here are 64 of the finest plates, reproduced by costume historian Stella Blum.

Excellent reproductions of high-fashion illustrations from rare issues of French periodical devoted largely to "Paris fashions" for women. Lavish costumes exhibit innumerable variations of "open" and "closed" types of bodices, plus hats often startling in size and color. Descriptive captions.

Over 400 striking fashion designs from rare issues of Godey's Lady's Book (1837-1869) — the most influential women's magazine of the period. Introduction and captions. 435 designs, 42 in full color.

Illustrations depicting 500 years of French fashion, reproduced from a rare 19th-century publication, progress chronologically from flamboyant headgear and voluminous robes of 15th-century royalty to high-waisted Empire styles of the Napoleonic era.

A thoughtful, lavishly illustrated, and highly readable account of the fabulous French fashion world in the pre-Revolutionary period This engrossing book chronicles one of the most exciting, controversial, and extravagant periods in the history of fashion: the reign of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette in 18th-century France. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell offers a carefully researched glimpse into the turbulent era's sophisticated and largely female-dominated fashion industry, which produced courtly finery as well as promoted a thriving secondhand clothing market outside the royal circle. She discusses in depth the exceptionally imaginative and uninhibited styles of the period immediately before the French Revolution, and also explores fashion's surprising influence on the course of the Revolution itself. The absorbing narrative demonstrates fashion's crucial role as a visible and versatile medium for social commentary, and shows the glittering surface of 18th-century high society as well as its seedy underbelly. Fashion Victims presents a compelling anthology of trends, manners, and personalities from the era, accompanied by gorgeous fashion plates, portraits, and photographs of rare surviving garments. Drawing upon documentary evidence, previously unpublished archival sources, and new information about aristocrats, politicians, and celebrities, this book is an unmatched study of French fashion in the late 18th century, providing astonishing insight, a gripping story, and stylish inspiration.

"The images featured in Fashion Plates: 150 Years of Style are part of an extensive collection of such plates held by Special Collections & College Archives, a unit of the Gladys Marcus Library at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York"--Preface.