Fashion Victims

This engrossing book chronicles one of the most exciting, controversial, and over-the-top periods in the history of fashion: the extravagant reign of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette in 18th-century France. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell offers a carefully researched glimpse into the turbulent era's sophisticated and largely female-dominated fashion industry, which produced courtly finery as well as promoting a thriving second hand clothing market outside the royal circle. She discusses in depth the exceptionally imaginative and uninhibited styles of the period immediately before the French Revolution, and also explores fashion's surprising influence on the course of the Revolution itself. The absorbing narrative demonstrates fashion's crucial role as a visible and versatile medium for social commentary, and shows the glittering surface of 18th-century high society as well as its seedy underbelly. Fashion Victims presents a compelling anthology of trends, manners and personalities from the era, accompanied by gorgeous fashion plates, portraits and photographs of rare surviving garments. Drawing upon documentary evidence, never-before-seen archival sources, and new information about aristocrats, politicians and celebrities, this book is an unmatched study of French fashion in the late 18th century, providing astonishing insight, a gripping story, and stylish inspiration.