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Clothing and the Bourgeoisie "Paris etatit une ville ou on jugeait par l'apparence, il n'ya point de pays au monde ou il soit plus facile d'en imposer." Casanova, Memoires |
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Clothing and the Bourgeoisie "Paris etatit une ville ou on jugeait par l'apparence, il n'ya point de pays au monde ou il soit plus facile d'en imposer." Casanova, Memoires |
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Never anywhere else was it so easy to impersonate a member of the nobility as it was in France during the 18th and the 19th centuries and no one so single-mindedly pursued this goal as did the social climbing bourgeoisie.
The Clothing Timeline
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The Sumptuary Laws |
Constisted of eighteen decrees that were passes between 1485 and 1660 intended to protect the noble appearance from imitation. "Prohibiting absolutely categorically all persons, commoners, non-nobles ... from assuming the title of nobility either in their style or in their clothes" Roche. Over time the Sumtuary Laws were relaxed, allowing the Bourgeoisie to imitate without recrimination. |
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The French
Revolution
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Some argue that the French
Revolution was staged by the Bourgeoisie in order to usurp the noble's
status. To keep this alterior motive hidden - to save their lives -
the Bourgeoisie had to struggle against their consuming desire to show-off
their wealth and demonsrate their "loyalty" to the revolution
by wearing appropriate clothes - not too rich, not too poor.
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Post Revolution Period
Finally the Bourgeoisie could were completely free to give in to the strong current of immitation. Indeed, it was socially mandated they do so. For this was the time of conspicuous consumption - the clothes really made the man.
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