Palais Galliera unveils the exhibition 18th-Century Fashion. An Imagined Legacy, which presents the characteristics of women's fashion in the Age of Enlightenment and its many reinterpretations throughout the history of fashion up to the present day. Often perceived as a distant, even dusty era, the 18th century nonetheless represents a major step in the evolution of female appearance, still influencing the world of fashion and popular culture today.
Marked by unprecedented creative fervor, the 18th century is distinguished by the diversity of silhouettes, the richness of fabrics, and the exuberance of adornments and hairstyles. It also marks the end of a female dress model inherited from previous centuries, paving the way for a new conception of the body and appearance. As early as the Second Empire, women's fashion drew heavily on the aesthetics of the Age of Enlightenment, which became a major source of inspiration. In a context of political and social upheaval, the 18th century appeared as a world of elegance and a lost paradise, evoking strong nostalgia. After World War II, French couture, seeking legitimacy to establish itself on the international market, once again turned to the luxury craftsmanship developed in the 18th century. The massive dissemination of images through the press, cinema, and entertainment arts transformed this heritage into a visual code immediately recognizable to popular culture. Gradually, 18th-century fashion ceased to be merely a historical reference and became an aesthetic in its own right. The exhibition thus offers a reflection on how fashion and collective memory shape, transform, and project this past into a living aesthetic, cultural, and symbolic narrative. Constantly reinvented and idealized, the 18th century resonates with the aspirations of each era. Today, this aesthetic flirts with kitsch, camp, and queer universes. Featuring more than seventy silhouettes, accompanied by fashion accessories, textiles, graphic arts, and photographs, the exhibition highlights masterpieces such as Queen Marie-Antoinette's corset, exceptionally presented to the public due to its extreme fragility. The tour contrasts 18th-century silhouettes with those of subsequent centuries, including iconic outfits from contemporary creations by Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Dries van Noten... Through three centuries of creation, Palais Galliera reveals the extent to which 18th-century fashion has been reinterpreted, balancing historical legacy, aesthetic fantasies, and creative freedom.
Price: From 0 to 14 euros.
Source: paris.fr — photo: Pierre et Gilles