FASHION PLATES
Fashion plate illustrations were used for centuries to depict current fashions in clothing. They were especially popular in England and France during the 18th and 19th centuries. Eventually, photography and improvements in communication led to their decline and disappearance.
Although fashion plates served as a sort of "Sears Catalog"...
Page From 1934 Sears Catalog
...the illustrations stand on their own as fine pieces of art and continue to be favorite collectibles. See for yourself!
The persons shown on fashion plates were not meant to depict anyone in particular; they were used to present current fashions, not serve as a portrait. This illustration depicting Lady Jane Grey in 1553 proves an exception. Women of the past had to endure a great deal of pain dressing in these fashions...
...but the fashion designs sure are beautiful.
The 17th century:
French Elite, c. 1650
French Mode, 1685
French Mode, 1690
Summer Dress, Late 1600s
The 18th century:
Court Dress, c. 1770s
French Design, c. 1700s
La Mode, c. 1700s
Toilette De Cour Louis XV, c. 1700s
Couple Seated, 1794
Caraco, 1786
The 19th century:
Le Bon Ton, 1800s
La Belle Assemblee, 1824
Le Follet, c. Early 1800s
Regency, 1823
Morning And Evening Dress, 1829
La Belle Assemblee, 1831
Green Mantelet, c. 1830s
Sour La Regence, c. 1830s
La Mode, c. 1840
La Mode, 1848
Petit Courrier Des Dames, 1850
Les Modes Parisiennes, c. 1850
Victorian, c. 1850
English Women, February 1862
Godey's, August 1870
Victoria, 1870
Peterson's Le Follet, 1873
Godey's, February 1874
Revue De La Mode, 1875
Revue De La Mode, 1879
La Mode Illustree, 1880
Formal Gown, 1885
Mother And Child, 1886
Peterson's Magazine, 1888
Queen Parasol, c. 1890
Queen Soiree, c.1890
La Mode Artistique, 1890
Two Women And A Girl, 1892
Visiting Toilette, October 1898
The 20th Century
French, 1901
The Delineator, 1902
Taffetas, 1903
Confectionne, 1906
Victorian Dresses, 1907
Les Robes De Paul Poiret, 1908
Londoners At Harrods, 1909
Morning Constitutional, 1912
Edwardian And Titanic Era, c. 1912
Edwardian And Titanic Era, c. 1913
Brunelleschi, 1914
A Ete Prime, 1914
McCall's Summer Dresses, 1917
Gatsby's Girls, c. 1920s
Incantation, c. 1920s
Three Women, c. 1930
Tailored Suits, c. 1930
Costume, 1937
Vestee Suit, 1939
White With Flora Trim, 1939
Tailleur Grey And Yellow, 1946
Tailleur Tan And Red, 1946
Tailleur Grey, 1949
Brown Suit, 1955
Charcoal Suit, 1955
Green Suit And Accessories, c. 1950s
Jumper Dress, c. 1950s
Long Coats, 1965
Green Outfit, 1965
Tailleur Grey, 1965
Daveiba, 1974
White With Green, 1974
I was hesitant to post fashions from the 1970s. As the decade progressed fashion, in my opinion, took a spiral into the bizarre. Three words describe the late '70s "fashions": Bell Bottoms, Disco, and Polyester. I can personally attest to wearing a polyester suit with bell-bottomed pants, along with obscenely fat ties. See below, if you dare...
Why did we do it? Where were the fashion police during this tragic half of the decade? Probably at Studio 54 or at a roller disco in one of these cheesy leisure suits boogying down to Village People's "Y.M.C.A."
The fashion plates I have posted represent a small portion of the images available online. As Cap'n Andy Hawks said in the 1927 musical "Show Boat", " Jest a sample!"
