Costume Français, 1795, No. 20 : Robe boutonnée a la Hussard (...) c. 1795

This fashion plate, Costume Français, was printed in France in 1795. It depicts a woman in a hussar-style buttoned dress and a tiger-striped velvet toque. During the French Revolution, fashion became a means of expressing political allegiance. The elite abandoned their aristocratic finery in favor of simpler styles that aligned with the values of the Republic. Military styles became popular for both men and women as a way to express patriotism and solidarity with the revolutionary army. The hussar style dress seen here is a great example. The tiger-striped toque, or hat, was a bold and exotic statement. Such publications played a crucial role in shaping and disseminating these new fashion trends. By studying costume plates like this, along with other visual and textual sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between fashion, politics, and identity in late 18th-century France.