La Mode au XVIIIème siècle : un héritage fantasmé

Characterised by an unprecedented creative effervescence, the 18th century is distinguished by the diversity of its silhouettes, the richness of its fabrics, and the exuberance of its adornments and hairstyles. From the Second Empire onwards, women’s fashion drew heavily on the aesthetics of the Age of Enlightenment, which became a major source of inspiration. After the Second World War, French couture, seeking to establish its legitimacy on the international market, turned once again to the luxury craftsmanship developed in the 18th century. The mass dissemination of images transformed this heritage into an immediately recognisable visual code. Today, this aesthetic flirts with the worlds of kitsch, camp and queer.

This exhibition catalogue offers a reflection on how fashion and collective memory shape, transform and project this past to create a contemporary aesthetic, cultural and symbolic narrative. Featuring over seventy outfits, fashion accessories, textiles, graphic art and photographs, it highlights masterpieces such as Queen Marie-Antoinette’s corset, and juxtaposes 18th-century silhouettes with those of subsequent centuries, including iconic outfits by Chanel, Dior, Vuitton, Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Dries van Noten…