Brief Introduction to Rococo FashionThe Rococo style replaced the Baroque mode in France in the late 1720s, especially for interiors, paintings and the decorative arts. The style had spread past architecture and furniture to painting and sculpture.
Rococo designs were inclined towards elaborate embellishments, intricate motifs and the exquisite materials. Colours used were light and pastel, designs were asymmetrical. Courtly life was about recreation, fun, and the enjoying the privileged wealth, while ignoring the responsibilities that came along with it. As noble men and women were less required in court, they spent most of their time in private estates, often hosting grand parties. Fashion came to reflect this disrespect and self-obsession, as well as the taste for all fancy things. Women’s FashionRococo women began adapting looser dresses and skirts.
Since so much of aristocratic life now revolved around private estates rather than the formal court, women began to wear private clothings in public, such as ; the negligee (a type of morning robe) began to be worn in public . Over time, this turned into robes worn over dresses or skirts and hanging off the shoulders. Dresses did still use corsets, bodices, and hoop skirts to accentuate voluptuous and sensuous quality to the wearer.
Women’s fashion became defined by the sorts of decorations and embellishments attached to it. Men’s FashionThe most significant fashion trend was the habit à la francaise, the French suit, which was a matching coat and waistcoat, ribbons and bows on the shoulders, and short pants with a panty hose. Lace frills were still worn and were tied around the neck.
Breeches usually ended at the knee, with white hosiery worn underneath and heeled shoes, which usually had large square buckles. Coats were worn close to the body and were not as skirt-like as during the Baroque era. They were also worn more comfortable showcasing their elaborate waistcoats. Tricorne hats became popular during this era, often enhanced with ostrich feathers. French elites and aristocrats wore elaborate clothing that were called “ Macaronis,” The lower class loathed their open show of wealth when they themselves dressed in little more than rags. Fabrics and ColoursFabrics were airy, more towards taffeta silks in pastel colours.
Fur trimmings lined robes and dresses, and flowered, organic ornaments were sewn into garments. HairstylesWomen would wear wigs occasionally , but this Baroque style was often replaced by pinned-up natural hairstyles, which were powdered to look grey or white. MakeupHer forehead was high, her cheeks plump and rosy, and her skin was white.
Fashionable eye colors included black, chestnut, or blue; eyebrows were divided (ie no monobrows), slightly full, semicircular, and tapered at the ends in a half moon shape. Her lips were small, with a slightly larger bottom lip creating a rosebud effect, soft, and red.
