The French- OTT, naturally. As we know, fashion in France is of the upmost importance. Marie Antoinette made sure to see to that. The Aristocratic woman, for sure, had to keep in touch with the very latest fashions:it was every bit as important as running her home. I am reminded of the Scarlet Pimpernel: How important the cravat was. Ha! Of course, we are not too concerned with the french. But it is worthwhile to mention that french fashion, at least on an aristocratic level, made its way to Britain, and was seen somewhat as a standard. However flamboyant it was: we were influenced.
However, we Brits couldn't quite live with ourselves if we were seen to be copying french trends. The Romantic period was the beginnings of a staunch hatred between the two nations. And so, in the hoyty toyty manner with which we Brits seems to always hold, we took their flamboyancy and modified it. Modest was celebrated, and the Aristocracy emphasized fine fabrics in simple form. Perhaps the main area in which which we got creative was with the hat. Even as time went on and outfits became simpler in style, the hat was always a statement of ones worth in society.
Typical in Womens fashion, we notice the empire waist, cropped coat, pastel colour and gloves. Fabrics were of the upmost importance: the middle class kept silks for very special occasions.
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