Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, 1886, 15e année, No. 750: Etoffes de la M.on Le Houssel (...) 1886

This fashion plate, Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, was printed in 1886 in Paris and captures the sartorial zeitgeist. The image presents two elegantly attired women, embodiments of contemporary ideals of beauty and status. Note the parasol. What was once a simple shield against the sun has evolved into a symbol of refinement. Its delicate presence echoes across centuries, from ancient Egyptian sunshades to the elaborate canopies of Renaissance royalty. Here, it is not merely functional but speaks volumes about the wearer's social standing and cultivated femininity. Consider the column in the background, a truncated ruin of a classical structure. This motif, once a symbol of power, resurfaces in a new context: the stylish backdrop of a fashion scene. The classical column serves as a silent witness, an anchor to antiquity, reminding us that even the newest trends are entwined with history. The past is always present, subtly influencing our perception of beauty and modernity.