Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dimanche 18 octobre 1885, 14e Année, No. 720: Toilettes de M.elle Thirion (...) 1885

This print, from the Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dated October 18th, 1885, presents a study in sartorial structure through the depiction of three distinct dresses. Each figure stands rigid, displaying an explicit engagement with form, with specific attention to the period's emphasis on shape and silhouette. The central wedding dress is a cascade of vertical pleats with a focus on the construction of the bodice and the fall of the fabric. The dress to the left opposes this with horizontal ruching, tied together by a large burgundy bow. The dress to the right has a layered skirt with lace detailing. Each dress is a sign, a symbol of its wearer's position. As a piece of structural communication, this print presents a semiotic system of signs; the cut of a dress and the materials used tell us of the wearer's aspirations, beliefs, and relationship with the social mores of the late nineteenth century. The piece invites us to consider fashion not just as adornment, but as a visual language ripe with cultural meaning.