Lady of Quality of the Last Century, Paris, 1778: Woman choosing dresses

Published/Created:

1899

Date Depicted:

1975
1700 AD - 1799 AD
1850 AD - 1899 AD

Notes:

The panier on the lower left figure consists of two wide, collapsible arches which are attached at the waist. Hair is dressed in a medium pompadour and powdered. The shoes are mules.

Abstract:

There are two trends. On the one hand, Early Georgian garments are exaggerated by excessive decoration; on the other, new garments are introduced which are simple and undecorated. The sack gown remains popular. In its court version, it is heavily decorated with a wide band of passementerie along the front edge of the overgown and at the bottom of the petticoat. The basic Early Georgian gown is now the formal court gown. As well as being highly decorated, it is changed in three important ways: the bodice neckline falls slightly off the shoulders and is held up by adjustable straps; the skirt is usually open at the center front; and a train is attached at the waist. The polonaise is a new gown which is boatlike in form. Open in front, it fastens over the bosom and is cut away to show the fitted bodice underneath. Usually it has a bustle pad and an overskirt draped like a venetian shade. The English gown reflects the trend toward simplicity. Modestly decorated, it is made of plain satins or, introduced for the first time, fabrics with a small-scale pattern. The corset is retained. Paniers are reduced to very small pads or replaced by a small bustle pad. The skirt is attached to the bodice waistline; extra fullness surrounds a point at the center back. Sleeves are long and fitted, ending at the wrist. Another fashionable version of the English gown is cut with a surplice bodice and round waist. The surplice is draped softly over a low-cut underbodice. A puffy fichu fills in the low neckline. Sleeves are long and tight. A long skirt has only a bustle pad; its fullness is centered at the back. Capes are over the voluminous gowns. Shawls become popular for the more slender gowns. The mantelet is a new shaped shawl. Jewelry is sparse. With the revival of interest in classical antiquity, the cameo becomes most important. It is set in brooches, bracelets, and necklaces. Other jewelry includes diamond stickpins, hairpins, and the chatelaine, a chain which is hooked to the waist for carrying a watch, keys, a scissor, and thimble. Hair and Hats: Women. Hairstyles vary dramatically at different points in the period. Reflecting the two trends in dress, at first hair is styled in a low pompadour. It gradually grows in height and by 1770 is extremely high, in some instances as much as three feet. On top are mounted miniature country houses, gardens, ships, and many other whimsical variations. Around 1780 the pompadour falls and is wide at the sides. Hair is natural in color or only slightly powdered. Among the many hats are the picture hat, which is titled foward, mushroom-shaped hats with wide brims, the tricorne and bicorne, and an occasional turban. The calash, a hood style, is for the large headdresses. It is made of silk which is shirred over a collapsible structure like the hood of a carriage. Mobcaps vary in size in proportion to the hairstyles.

Variant Titles:

Femme de qualité au siècle passé, Paris, 1778: Voici des robes à la française…

Associated Names:

Leloir, Maurice, 1853-1940 [Artist]

Topics:

Costume -- Europe -- History -- (LC)
Prints -- France -- 19th century -- (YVRC)

Period/Style:

Late Georgian

Culture:

French

Accession Number:

4391-147

Genre:

costume (mode of fashion) (AAT)
prints: engravings (AAT)

Format:

Image

Content Type:

Clothing & Accessories
Prints & Photographs

Rights:

The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.

Access Restrictions:

Yale Community Only

Related Exhibit or Resource:

Late Georgian: 1750-1785: Dress, Hair, and Hats: Women

Source Creator:

Button, Jeanne and Sbarge, Stephen

Source Title:

History of Costume, In Slides, Notes and Commentaries: Volume 4

Source Created:

New York, NY
Theatre Arts Slide Presentations
1975

Call Number:

GT513 +B87 4 (LC)

Orbis Barcode:

39002051938463

Yale Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Digital Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Original Repository:

New Haven, CT: Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University

OID:

10608703

PID:

digcoll:1823279