Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dimanche 9 mai 1886, 15e Année, No. 749: Etoffes de la M.on Le Houssel (...) 1886

This print, Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, created by A. Chaillot in 1886, presents a formal study in contrasts, composed through color and line. The juxtaposition of the two figures, each adorned in distinct attire, creates a dynamic tension. The figure on the left, marked by bold, diagonal stripes, counters the soft, cascading lace, creating an intriguing push and pull. The figure on the right presents a contrast in color and form, with solid mauve juxtaposed against gold. The artist’s use of vertical lines elongates the figure, while the draped fabric introduces movement and volume. Here, fashion operates as a sign system, reflective of broader cultural codes and social identities. The attention to detail in the garments, from the cut of the fabric to the placement of embellishments, invites us to decode the sartorial language of the late 19th century. Fashion, after all, does not merely clothe the body, but communicates status, taste, and aspiration.