HONR218E

Allegedly uttered by Louis XIV, the Sun King, this statement exposes the importance of fashion to French history. Indeed from its very beginnings, the fashion industry in France has been synonymous with the international reputation of the entire nation. Similarly, being "chic," or having an innate sense of discernment and style, became synonymous with French femininity. This seminar will explore the interconnectivity of the history of fashion design in France, the requirements it placed on French women, and the international reputations and pressures the fashion industry has shouldered since the French Revolution. We will look at how fashion reflected and created the moods of various historical periods, including the designs of Coco Chanel in the 1920s and Christian Dior in the 1950s, and we will also see how French women's national belonging has been innately tied to their ability to display French fashion.