Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien, 25 septembre 1809, (1006): Coeffure d'une Jeune Personne 1809

Pierre Charles Baquoy created this print titled 'Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien, 25 septembre 1809, (1006): Coeffure d'une Jeune Personne'. It appeared in a journal in Paris during a time when fashion was not merely about clothing, but also about expressing social status and cultural identity. The image presents a young woman adorned in the height of early 19th-century fashion. Her high-waisted dress, delicate shawl, and elaborate hairstyle speak to the period's emphasis on elegance and refinement. But beyond the surface, consider how such representations in fashion journals catered to and shaped the desires and aspirations of women within a specific class. How did these images dictate standards of beauty and femininity? What pressures did they place on women to conform? And what stories might be hidden behind the carefully constructed facade of the "Costume Parisien"? The young woman, with her gaze turned to the side, almost seems to invite us to explore these questions. Fashion is never just about clothes, it is always about people.