Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dimanche 13 mars 1887, 16e Année, No. 793: Etoffes de la M.on Le Houssel (...) 1887

Editor: This is a print from 1887, titled "Revue de la Mode." It showcases three very elegant women standing outside, presumably modelling the latest fashions. What catches my eye is how each dress, while elaborate, presents a very distinct character. As a historian, what stands out to you about this piece? Curator: Well, firstly, this image gives us a direct insight into the late 19th century's booming fashion industry. It was no longer a craft limited to the elite, but something rapidly evolving due to industrial advancements. Look at the detail achieved with print technology, used to mass communicate current styles! Consider how publications like 'Revue de la Mode' democratized access to high fashion trends, effectively shaping social aspirations and class distinctions. Do you see any signs of how the clothing production was done at that time? Editor: I can imagine these dresses weren't mass-produced like clothing today, they seem to indicate a degree of tailoring to each woman, even within the current style. Each silhouette is distinctively highlighted with colour, fabric patterns and detail! Curator: Exactly! While democratized through print, the garments were most likely bespoke or locally made. This kind of publication encouraged consumerism while reflecting existing social structures, and shaping new consumer practices. Notice the background—a blurred public space—which also tells us that these fashions are meant to be seen, consumed and envied within a social sphere. The backdrop serves less as scenery and more as an invitation to participate in Parisian social life. Editor: It is interesting to consider it a democratization in print. Thanks for helping me see the layers within this one image. Curator: Indeed. And consider that behind those images there were entire social constructs based on gender and commerce, dictating what a woman should wear, how she should behave.