Dresses& Fans
Makeup & Hair
18th century Hair
The height of the coiffure or headdress - including hair,false hair,powder,hats & ornaments as one creation - increased in height when Marie Antoinette became Queen.By 1778 it was often more then 20 inches high - sometimes as high as 3 feet 0 and ornamented by theme of the day.A coiffure a la flore,for example would include a basket of flowers perched of the mass of hair,while a coiffure a la victoire would involve the classical wreath of oak or laurel leaves.After 1780 it became fashionable to top the coiffure with hats & bonnets.
18th century Makeup
Scented starch was used as face powder,and to powder the hair until grey.Face&Hands were often heavily made up with white paint or paste.Rougue was used extravagantly,not as a delicate shading but in precise circles,stars,or cresent moons, were perfectly place to draw attention to dimples or features of particular beauty.Perfume was used liberally, but soap sparingly.
Shoes
18th Century Shoes
High heels were in fashion until the 1780s.Mules or slippers were more comfterable than most and often whenever indoors.They were heavily embroided,often bejewled or decorated with a ribbon tie or a rosette.