Read and translate the text. The French Revolution caused a major revolu­tion in fashion too

The French Revolution caused a major revolu­tion in fashion too. The French court no longer dictated style to the rest of Europe, although Paris remained the center of fashion. Under the new anti-royalist regime, cheap white cot­ton replaced luxurious silks and brocades as a symbol of social equality.

A new "Romantic" movement spread in literature and the arts. Ancient Greece and Rome were chosen as the model of a civilized society. In revolutionary France a new sense of freedom inspired lighter, less restricting clothes for women. From about 1790, classical Greek draperies were revived in women's fashions. High-waisted tunics with long trains, open-toed sandals and ringleted hair were adopted by the new fashion leaders in Paris.

These styles were seen at first as scandalous because they were worn without corsets, and were often very figure revealing when com­pared to the earlier heavier styles. Soon, how­ever, they were worn by women of all ages across the whole of Europe.

In menswear tailored English frock coats caught on. They were worn with high-collared linen shirts, plain linen or silk cravats, smooth-fitting wool or buckskin knee breeches and tall, plush top hats, The revolution in France introduced full-length trousers into menswear for the first time and removed the gorgeous 18th-century colors from men's clothes for many years to come. Along the eastern seaboard of America, wealthy men and women followed these styles, with the help of the new American fashion magazines.

From 1825 till 1850 the cycle of fashion in Paris turned full circle as styles moved away from Greek simplicity. By 1830 sleeves had grown into huge "leg-of-mutton" balloon shapes. Waists were put back in place, skirts grew fuller, and fabrics brighter. Dresses were trimmed with fine lace collars, which covered the shoulders. Bonnets had huge brims and were lavishly decorated.

Major developments took place in mens­wear. Waists got tighter, colors grew darker, and top hats taller. By 1850 the "city suit" with its dark, tailored, wool trousers, frock coats, and vests was widely worn, with a brown check wool jacket for leisure wear.

Wealthy people wore "custom-tailored" clothes (clothes made to order). Everyone else bought cheap, ready-to-wear clothes made by poorly paid seamstresses and tailors working long hours in terrible conditions. Poor women either made their own simple dresses or bought second-hand clothes from street markets. Their styles were only very vaguely related to the fashions of the period.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-08