The children of nobility in France in 1794, in a manner “protesting” the conflict, created “Les Incroyables et Marveilleuses”, extreme behavior and fashion to make a political statement to their families. (photo: the classic depiction of an “Incroyable (male) et Marveilleuse (female)”)
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Marie Antoinette was Beheaded
There are many stories & paintings of the beheading of the Queen of France in 1793. The favorite is that she wore her purple slippers to the guillotine, and accidentally stepped on the toes of the executioner, for which she profusely apologized. (2 paintings of Marie Antoinette’s death. Below: she …
The French “Reign of Terror”..
…abruptly caused change in fashion. New ideals of free thought, influence of Marie Antoinette’s “chemise en gaulle” relaxed country style, along with ideas brought from around the world, came to a crossroads in France. In 1793, the common populace was rising up against the monarchy. They stormed the bastille (prison), …
Revolution changes everything…
… France, the fashion leader of the world in the late 1700’s, was headed for war. In the wake of the storming of the Bastille by Paris mobs, the overthrow of the National Assembly, & the Reign of Terror that sends even suspected traitors to the guillotine, French fashion, and …
Most Women were pretty normal…
… during the 1st era of Regency in 1800 Europe & United States. They got chilly in their thin cotton dresses when the wind blew, & they didn’t want to run around in public nearly naked. These women invented the “chemisette”, or an insert to cover their bosoms for warmth …
More Greek Influence
An English woman from 1802. One wonders why she thinks the Greeks wore plants on their heads.
Greek influenced Regency fashion examples…
… Even those well covered up during the 1st Regency Era, got a bit silly. (portrait: 1804)
They went a little “Too Greek”…
After decades of layers & layers of clothing, women seemed to be almost naked in the thin, white muslin dresses of Regency. Although many women wore full, flesh colored leggings and long stays underneath, many were actually – almost naked. There are many cartoons & bawdy jokes about the early …
Here are some 1st Era Regency “Romans”…
Notice the white draping, overlay, hair, headpieces, & footwear were like the early Greeks & Romans.