Petit Courrier des Dames, 15 juillet 1827, No. 484 : Robe de gros de Naples... 1827

This is a fashion plate from the Petit Courrier des Dames, published in Paris in 1827. More than just a pretty picture, it’s a window into the world of early 19th-century French society and its emerging consumer culture. The image presents an ideal of feminine elegance. The elaborate dress and hat speak to the importance of fashion in defining social status during the Bourbon Restoration, after the fall of Napoleon. These magazines weren’t just about clothes; they were about constructing an identity and participating in a culture of display. Magazines such as this contributed to the rise of the fashion industry and shaped the way women were represented in art and society. To truly understand this image, we need to look at the fashion press and the broader social and economic changes happening in France at the time. It’s a reminder that art and fashion are always embedded in a particular time and place, reflecting the values and aspirations of the society that produced them.