Mid-18th Century Chic

Gentle Reader -

Clothing from the mid-18th century still has the power to impress the modern day with its sense of grace and proportion.

There is a remarkable balance in this example: none of the severity of earlier in that century, and certainly none of excesses later.

From the collection of the V&A.

- AP

Men's Fashion Then - 18th Century Redux

Gentle Reader -

The man pictured is obviously of today, but in clothing that harks back to the 18th century. While an all-silver theme would have been out of the question back then, note the sense of proportion, and a certain spirit that does not speak to our corporate work realities.

A reminder that clothing speaks to not only our tastes, but also outlines the very foundations of what we signify as meaningful.

- AP

Revolutionary Fashion - Mrs. Montresor

Gentle Reader -

John Singleton Copley's portrait of Frances Montresor dates from about 1778. Is there an influence of the French court of Versailles? Possibly, since the French court dominated fashion during this period (note the hairstyle).

More importantly, this is very English fashion. Notice that this is a red coat.

The sportiness of the jacket, the military-derived details, the finish of the shirt - even the relaxed composure of Mrs. Montresor herself: this is a shining example of dash, which might be the English equivalent of French chic.

However dash came first.

If one compares the fashion in this portrait to decades of English styles that were to come, there seems to be a lingering inspiration. Not of Mrs. Montresor per se, but of the style she embodies here.

- AP