Elegantia, of tijdschrift van mode, luxe en smaak voor dames, Januari 1807, No. 3: Chapeau de Velours, garni en Satin... 1807

This is a fashion plate from the Dutch journal "Elegantia," printed in January 1807. It shows a woman in a blue velvet coat and matching hat, trimmed with satin, over a muslin dress with embroidered hem. Fashion plates like this one played a crucial role in shaping consumer culture in the early 19th century. Journals like "Elegantia" were aimed at an elite female readership, women with the money and leisure time to follow the latest trends. But fashion was more than just a matter of personal style. The clothes people wore were powerful indicators of social status, political affiliation, and cultural values. In this image, the high-waisted "empire" silhouette of the dress, for example, reflected the influence of classical antiquity and was associated with the political ideals of the French Revolution. To fully understand the social and cultural significance of this image, we might consult historical sources like letters, diaries, and newspaper advertisements, as well as museum collections of clothing and textiles. These resources can help us reconstruct the world in which this fashion plate was created and consumed, revealing the complex relationship between art, commerce, and social identity.