Le Follet, Courrier des Salons, ca. 1836, No. 520 : Chapeau en Paill (...) c. 1836

This fashion plate, likely created around 1836, showcases the height of Parisian elegance. Dominating the scene are the elaborate hats, symbols of status and taste. Note the straw bonnet adorned with feathers and ribbons, a common motif throughout European portraiture. This echoes the 'shepherdess' hats seen in 18th-century art, popularized by figures like Marie Antoinette, but here, they've evolved. These hats were once linked to pastoral fantasies; now they reflect the aspirations of the haute bourgeoisie. Similarly, the lace embellishments, reminiscent of earlier royal finery, now adorn the attire of a rising middle class. There is a delicate balance between emulation and innovation that engages our collective memory. The fashion plate serves as a subconscious bridge connecting present trends to historical archetypes, where the past continuously informs the present. The emotional resonance lies in the subtle negotiation of status, identity, and aspiration played out in fabric and form.