Petit Courrier des Dames, 1830, No. 71 / ? : Turban Exécutée par M.r Croizat... 1830

This fashion plate, Petit Courrier des Dames No. 71, was printed in 1830, and presents various Parisian women's hat designs. While the print itself is a relatively straightforward affair—etching and letterpress on paper—the designs it puts forward speak to a whole industry of skilled millinery. Note the large turban shapes, draped and wound from textiles that must have been imported. And what about the feathers? These would have involved specialized labor, both in the raising of birds, and in the delicate work of sorting, cleaning, and mounting the plumage. Ribbons, too, required factories of their own, not to mention the efforts of those dressmakers who knew just how to tie them. This image reminds us that fashion is never just a matter of aesthetics. It is also a network of materials, making, and labor, all brought together in the service of style. Recognizing this expands our understanding of both art and social history.