This week, we will continue with our fashion history session by taking a look at the fashion of the 1790s.
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Revolutionaries argued against the long-held belief that clothing should reflect one’s socioeconomic class and advocated that it should express one’s political sentiments (preferably republican).
The Revolution strengthened the trend toward informality and simplicity that had formed over the previous two decades, despite the fact that it did not introduce any new styles of fashionable clothes.
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The silhouette was quite similar to that of the late 1780s at the start of the decade. Styles like the redingote and the fitting caraco (jacket bodice) and skirt continued to be popular, and gowns were still created as two-piece ensembles with an open robe over a petticoat.
Long, tight sleeves that were cut on a curve to fit snugly around the elbow were new, and underpetticoats, which took the place of the “false bums” of the early to mid-1780s, gave the garments a softly rounded appearance.
The most popular textiles for daytime clothing were plain and striped silks and plain and printed cottons.