Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, 13 decembre 1885, 14e Année, No. 728: Toilettes de Mme Eden (...) 1885

This print from the Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, created by A. Chaillot in 1885, presents a study in the cultural codes of late 19th-century fashion. The composition, featuring two elegantly dressed women, immediately draws attention to the textures and forms of their garments. Note how the artist plays with line and shape to define the elaborate dresses, using soft colors to highlight the intricate details of lace, ruffles and drapery. These visual elements reflect not just fashion trends, but also broader ideas about femininity and social status. The dresses, with their emphasized waists and voluminous skirts, create an aesthetic of controlled opulence. Consider how the semiotic system of fashion operates here. Each element, from the fans to the gloves, acts as a signifier of elegance and refinement. The print invites us to decode these visual cues and understand the cultural values they represent. This image is not merely a depiction of clothing, it is a complex statement about identity, class, and the construction of the female image in Parisian society.