Petit Courrier des Dames, 15 mai 1829, No. 638 : Modes de Long-champs... 1829

This fashion plate was made around 1829, and shows the latest in Parisian style. The main figure wears an organdi dress embroidered with knotted wool, or 'laine nouée', while the figure to the left wears a bonnet of blonde lace. These textiles suggest a complex system of production. Organdi is a fine, translucent cotton, known for its crispness, indicating high-quality weaving and finishing. The embroidery would have been done by skilled artisans, highlighting the labor-intensive processes involved in creating fashionable garments. These are not merely clothes; they are products of a network of designers, weavers, and embroiderers, each contributing to the overall aesthetic and value. The print itself, with its delicate lines and coloring, was also made through labor. Plates like this one helped to fuel consumer desire and drive production. They remind us that fashion is not just about individual expression, but about the social and economic structures that make it possible.