Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dimanche 4 octobre 1885, 14e Année, No. 718: Toilettes de Mme Pelletier-Vidal (...) 1885

A. Chaillot created this fashion plate in 1885, presenting an image of bourgeois femininity during the late 19th century. Here, we see two women adorned in meticulously crafted dresses that hug their torsos. The garments reflect an era where fashion served as a visual marker of class and status, adhering to the strict silhouettes dictated by Parisian style. The image captures the constraints placed upon women's bodies and the social expectations of elegance and refinement during this period. In a society marked by distinct gender roles, clothing became a powerful tool for expressing and reinforcing identity. How might these images have shaped women's perceptions of themselves? Ultimately, this fashion plate invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between fashion, identity, and societal norms, then and now.