Petit Courrier des Dames, 1829, No. 623 : Bonnet de blond (...) 1829

This fashion plate, titled "Petit Courrier des Dames, 1829, No. 623," was printed in Paris, and captures the sartorial sensibilities of the time. Though created by an anonymous artist, its existence speaks volumes about the cultural emphasis on fashion and femininity in 19th-century France. Here we see not just clothing, but a carefully constructed image of an ideal woman. Her dress, with its emphasized waist and voluminous sleeves, speaks to the era’s restrictive yet ornamental vision of womanhood. This vision emphasizes delicacy and domesticity. The bonnet, adorned with ribbons and lace, frames her face, drawing attention to her perceived beauty. What's unsaid, but crucial, is who gets to partake in this world of beauty. These fashions would have been exclusively available to the upper classes, highlighting the social and economic divides of the time. So, while the print invites viewers into a world of elegance, it simultaneously reinforces the boundaries of class and privilege.