Société des journaux de modes Réunis, 1887, Nr. 2395 DT : Passementeries et Garnitures (...) 1887

This fashion plate from 1887 showcases an array of women's hats, each adorned with rich ornamentation, feathered plumes, and lavish ribbons. These elements aren't merely decorative; they are potent symbols of status and aspiration. Consider the recurring motif of the feather. In ancient Egypt, a feather symbolized truth and justice, weighed against the soul in the afterlife. Here, the feathers, though secularized, retain an aura of transcendence and refinement, marking the wearer as someone of elevated taste and means. The profusion of ribbons, too, speaks volumes. Ribbons, like threads of fate, can be traced back to ancient Greece. Their intricate folds evoke complexity and control, suggesting the wearer's mastery over her social presentation. These hats, perched atop the head like miniature thrones, create an emotional and psychological display of the aspirations of the women wearing them. The fashion plate becomes a canvas where desires for social elevation, status, and self-expression are projected. The image embodies the continuous, cyclical dance between past and present, where ancient symbols resurface, draped in the fabric of contemporary desires.