Arcuri 1 Arcuri 9 Malia Arcuri Marie Aja Herrera 247 02 May ✓ Solved

Arcuri 1arcuri 9malia Arcurimarie Aja Herrerafash 247 02may 10, 2020fa

Arcuri 1arcuri 9malia Arcurimarie Aja Herrerafash 247 02may 10, 2020fa

Arcuri 1 Arcuri 9 Malia Arcuri Marie Aja-Herrera FASH 247-02 May 10, 2020 FASH Test

Describe the fashion trends during the 17th and 18th centuries, focusing on changes in men's and women's clothing, accessories, technological advancements in textiles, and social influences on dress. Include references to specific garments, styles, and cultural influences, and analyze how social class affected fashion choices during these periods. Provide historical context and discuss the impact of technological developments on textile production and fashion accessibility.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The 17th and 18th centuries marked significant transitions in Western fashion, reflecting broader social, technological, and cultural shifts. A comprehensive understanding of these periods reveals how changes in dress were intertwined with developments in textile technology, international trade, and social hierarchy.

During the 17th century, European nations such as France, England, and Spain held dominant political and cultural influence. The fashion landscape at this time exhibited a transition from the late Renaissance and Mannerist styles to the Baroque, characterized by grandeur and ornamentation. Fashion plates emerging from Paris provided visual documentation resembling modern fashion magazines, which helped shape and disseminate style trends (Tortora & Eubank, 1998). These plates reveal elaborate garments and accessories, reflecting societal status and cultural values.

Men’s fashion in the 17th century experienced subtle changes. Shirts continued to be prominent, but the introduction of cravats—scarf-like neckwear—replaced traditional collars, signaling an evolving aesthetic (Cunnington & Cunnington, 1972). Jackets such as surputs and justaucorps became popular, covering breeches completely and emphasizing a more structured silhouette. Breeches shortened to knee length and became slimmer, aligning with the trend toward tailoring and refinement. Men’s wigs enlarged, often styled in natural colors, signifying status and fashion consciousness. Shoes remained a staple, with men preferring them over boots, maintaining practicality and style (Fleming, 2017).

Women's attire in this period saw minimal drastic changes but notable stylistic shifts. Necklines became squarer and less revealing, and corsets gained prominence, accentuating the waist in a V-shape and often decorated with elaborate embellishments. The emergence of the Mantua dress—a gown cut in one piece from shoulder to hem—illustrated a move toward flowing and unified designs, likely inspired by Middle Eastern robes (Source: The Met, 1991). Women's footwear evolved to pointed toes, higher heels, and narrower shapes, often decorated elaborately, reflecting social status and fashion trends. The popularity of pantofles, heeled slippers, underscored the period’s penchant for ornate footwear.

Accessories played a vital role in demonstrating social rank. Women used pomander balls—perfumed items strapped as belts—and “plumpers,” wax balls that added fullness to cheeks (Esposito, 1970). Such accessories were status symbols, highlighting wealth and taste. The social stratification was evident in clothing details such as gown train lengths and corset embellishments, emphasizing aristocracy versus commoner attire. The trade of luxurious fabrics, especially from the Middle East, influenced fashion, with the Mantua gown believed to be of Middle Eastern origin, symbolizing the period's cultural exchanges.

The 18th century introduced significant shifts with the decline of Baroque and the rise of Rococo, emphasizing slender curves, asymmetry, and balance. This era coincided with technological advancements that revolutionized textile production. The invention of the flying shuttle (1733) increased weaving efficiency, enabling faster production of fabrics. Subsequently, mechanized spinning devices, powered by water and steam, made cotton textiles more affordable and accessible to the masses (Tortora & Eubank, 1998). These innovations led to a surge in cotton fabric consumption, as the increased supply lowered prices, broadening fashion accessibility beyond the aristocracy.

In France, fashion became a means of showcasing wealth, with elaborate fabrics, embroidery, and decoration. The distinction between social classes intensified, as wealthier individuals wore highly decorated garments made from expensive silks, velvets, and embroideries, while the lower classes relied on simpler, homemade clothing. Tailors became well-respected craftsmen, regularly commissioned by the upper classes to produce custom garments, while ordinary working-class individuals often sewed their clothes at home with limited resources (Cunnington & Cunnington, 1972).

The economic disparities were reflected in daily wear: wealthy women donned fine, heavily decorated gowns such as the Robe battante and Chemise à la Reine, made of lightweight muslins imported from India, symbolizing the West’s fascination with exotic textiles (Esposito, 1970). Lower-class women wore practical garments like chemises, petticoats, and simple gowns, often handmade from cheaper fabrics. The fashion evolution also included changes in silhouette—skirts shrank in length, revealing ankles, and hairstyles became less towering, moving toward more natural looks towards the late 1770s and 1780s (Tortora & Eubank, 1998).

Men's fashion in the 18th century similarly evolved. Shirts with longer neckbands and sewn collars replaced earlier neckcloths. Banyans—loose robes inspired by Indian garments—became popular for leisure wear. Footwear included sturdy riding boots and spatterdashers or gaiters, reflecting practicality. The use of rich fabrics like silk damask, velvet, and taffeta illustrated wealth, while military and hunting boots emphasized functionality and durability (Fleming, 2017).

Women’s fashion during this period saw dramatic changes—skirts shortened, revealing ankles, and necklines lowered further. The Chemise à la Reine, a muslin gown, epitomized the move toward simplicity and comfort, imported from India and embraced by the upper classes (Esposito, 1970). Hairstyles shifted from towering structures to more natural formats, with waves and curls framing the face. Cloaks and shawls, often made from velvet or light fabrics, completed outfits for different seasons, serving both practical and decorative purposes.

The period’s social consciousness was evident in clothing—displaying wealth through fine fabrics and elaborate embellishments while the poor relied on simpler, homemade attire. International trade introduced exotic textiles and design influences, enriching fashion and enabling a degree of cultural interplay (Cunnington & Cunnington, 1972). Technological advances democratized textile production, connecting the fashion of the elite with that of common people and setting the stage for modern consumer culture.

In conclusion, the 17th and 18th centuries were pivotal in shaping Western fashion, with technological innovations dramatically increasing textile accessibility and influencing styles across social classes. Fashion served as a marker of social status, cultural identity, and technological progress. The period also reflects broader societal shifts—from aristocratic grandeur to more naturalistic aesthetics—highlighting how clothing encapsulates the social, economic, and technological history of the era.

References

• Cunnington, C. W., & Cunnington, P. (1972). Handbook of English Costume in the Seventeenth Century. Faber and Faber.
• Esposito, Bianca. (1970). "The Purple Pet En L'air: Part 1." The Closet Historian.
• Fleming, R. S. (2017). "Available for Purchase from These Fine Vendors." Kate Tattersall Adventures.
• Tortora, P. G., & Eubank, K. (1998). Survey of Historic Costume: a History of Western Dress. Fairchild Publications.