Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dimanche 7 octobre 1883, 12e annee, No. 614: Toilettes de Mme Day-Fallett (...) 1883

A. Chaillot created this print entitled "Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille" in 1883, capturing the height of Parisian fashion through detailed rendering. The print offers a glimpse into the construction of gender and class during the late 19th century. The elaborate dresses, adorned with flowers and intricate details, reflect the restrictive yet decorative roles assigned to women of the bourgeoisie. Fashion became a visual language, communicating status, and adherence to social norms. Consider the layers of fabric, the tight corsets, and the emphasis on ornamentation which confined movement. In this way the bodies become objects of display, embodying ideals of femininity which were inherently intertwined with wealth and leisure. Reflect upon the labor that went into producing such garments, the countless hours of seamstresses, often working in harsh conditions, whose stories are rendered invisible. The print not only showcases fashion, but also subtly hints at the complex intersections of gender, class, and labor.