Fashion has been a mark for different generations globally since the dressing code has been changing with time (Chrisman-Campbell, 2015). The Chemise is a dress that signified a new fashion that was founded by the Marie Antoinette back in the 1780s. According to the French traditions, the queen was not allowed to expose herself to the public (Chrisman-Campbell, 2015). Instead, her duty was to give birth to a son who would inherit the kingdom and be loyal to the king. However, Marie Antoinette became a public figure as a result of her new way of dressing (Chrisman-Campbell, 2015). The chemise consisted of thin muslin layers that were loosely draped as well as belted at the waist. The dress served its purpose best during the spring season as it was favorable for lounging. Its unique characteristics contributed to the quick adaptation of the fashion by France and England ladies (Chrisman-Campbell, 2015).
Since Marie Antoinette fashion had started to create rebellion on the aristocratic way of a court ruling in French, people had begun creating hatred to their queen. It was until the Elizabeth Lebrun presented a painting of the queen in the chemise gown that people started to solidify their anger against Marie Antoinette. The painting marked a beginning of the artwork in French that was supported the by the queen. Indeed, the chemise dress fashion began to thrive in the textile market configuring a new image of women in the country. Marie Antoinette was impressed by the positive embracement of the fashion and could not hesitate to make it her way of living in and outside the palace (Chrisman-Campbell, 2015).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Before being married to Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette was an Australian girl who believed in the power of fashion to signify a nation. However, her change of nationality triggered the dressing lifestyle she was used to in Australia (Chrisman-Campbell, 2015). Upon arriving, the French guards at the border stripped her garments off and replaced them with the clothes associated with the France culture. The performance of such rituals signified transformation of foreigners to the French way of living. After living with the new fashion for a significant period, Marie Antoinette developed a passion for her newly designed clothes. The enthusiasm portrayed towards the chemise began to form a culture in Versailles. The place became not only the political center but also a fashion reference point. France had been following the steps of aristocrats who ruled before, and fashion was not a concern. Strictly, French residence was entitled to wearing frocks, fabrics as well as accessories made for specific functions and time. The music and style of art also matched the different occasions.
The Chemise fashion seemed to be simple in style and could easily be adapted by experts in the textile industry. Since Marie Antoinette aimed at creating a personal influence of power that lacked among women, her fashion was against the aristocracy that reigned in court. There were policies set to define how women ought to wear their outfits. They were entitled to putting on different outfits without costly modifications like those possessed by the chemise dress. The queen’s fashion was straightforward and likable by women hence its fame spread quickly enough to alter other wearing styles (Chrisman-Campbell, 2015).
Growth in the fashion industry led to the designing of a full skirt with a frame at the bottom line to hold it. Marie Antoinette chemise dress is what evolved to a “Guardainfante” that resembled a Spanish fashion that existed back in the 17 th century. The new design of chemise dress was loved by women since it used to hide pregnancies. Though it had a basket shape, the wide skirt was put into a painting by artists (Chrisman-Campbell, 2015). They could reach incredibly huge sizes of up to 16 feet in circumference. According to history, the cloth never advocated for comfortably since to women could not share a door entrance or even use a single seat as a result of its bulkiness. Indeed, that is contrary to the fashion present today that has been made light and less in diameter to fit the body shape. Hence, an evolution of fashion is something that occurs from one generation to the other.
In the early 19 th century, the broad skit was reduced to match the volume of hips. As a result, there were changes on the bust-line since it had to integrate with the new circumference. The waist was narrowed, and back straps introduced making noblewomen to require assistance when dressing. The newly designed chemise consisted of undergarments such as camisoles that were long enough to touch the knees. It also included a petticoat touching the ankles from the waist. Advancement was made later when a sack-back gown was designed with a unique feature of exaggerated shapes. It created some allowance for mobility enabling women to walk flexibly without straining.
With an increase in fashion designs in France, more tastes were introduced in respect the consumer’s different preferences. Dresses like the “ Robe a legalize ” had features that attracted men. They included short jackets as well as broad lapels that inspired the male gender to wear them. Professional designers during the time of Marie Antoinette had the opportunity to make the make men wears due to the high demand. Accessories were also part of the fashion to boost its beauty(Chrisman-Campbell, 2015). However, they could only fit ladies dress style. During formal occasions, accessories turned to be irrelevant since women used gloves or long-sleeved clothes to cover the bear part of the body. A perfect example of an accessory that matched the chemise fashion was the fan. It is commonly used among Versailles women to send a flirtatious message and acted as a way of seduction in the public domain.
In conclusion, the frivolity of the French fashion in the 18 th to early 19 th century set a pace for the textile industry globally. The high demand for fashion clothes by people in authority made the industry dynamic. Evolution of the chemise dress fashion has experienced even in the current generation. New dress designs are being introduced every day that aims at displaying ladies beauty. Eventually, fashion has become a business globally with more research being conducted to improve on the type of clothes produced in the industry. Ultimately, the chemise dress fashion by Marie Antoinette did not only invade a change in the French culture but also set a green light to the development of the fashion industry. People are now making a huge amount of money through inventing simple cloth designs that capture the interest of other people in the society.
References
Chrisman-Campbell, K. (2015). Fashion Victims: Dress at the Court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette . Yale University Press.
