Fashioning Identity

Fabulous morning at the National Gallery looking at fashion in the 18th century and how it reflected national identity.

The morning was in the form of two lectures by Aileen Ribeiro, Emeritus professor at the Courtauld, one looking at France and England and the other at Spain. The event was in connection with the current Goya portraits exhibition.

To sum up French fashion was more frivolous and flouncy until the Revolution when things became simplified. English fashion tended to reflect rural life with riding habits and good tailoring being fashionable. Spain had followed the fashion of other countries in this period but also developed a style based on the regional dress of the majos and majas of May Day celebrations.

Both lectures were illustrated with wonderful pictures both of portraits but also of clothing in museums.

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