Woman wearing headdress and dress featuring extravagent pleating and flouncing. "Pleated collars, flounces (falbalas) and ruffs (chicories), have never been more in fashion than today. The art of pressing has been raised to the point of perfection. The elegantes no longer send their linen to Neuilly: the coarse hands of the peasants tear the fabric they launder. The delicate hand of a Parisienne is required for fine linen. It costs 6 sous to launder a dress, and 50 to press it." Handcoloured engraving from Pierre de la Mesangere's Le Bon Genre, Paris, 1817.

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Size: 4723px × 6332px
Photo credit: © Florilegius / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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