Tags
conspicuous consumption, dress history, fashion and art, fashion and history, Favlook - Lookfav Focus, free to be, free to be me, luxury fabrics, ostentatious dress, sumptuary laws
Dress to impress
in all finery: clothed in opulent fabric
is a multi-sensory sensation
at one point in time, only to be experienced by those of the ruling classes
and reserved for special/important occasions.
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Throughout history,
various societies have enacted sumptuary laws
which were regulations designed to control what people wore
and in some instances what they did-
in terms of demonstration of wealth.
These laws kept ‘fashion and dress in check’ ,
as means to identify an individual’s socio-economic station
by clothing worn.
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During the medieval era in Europe,
sumptuary codes prevented any attempt of elevation in status through dress.
The nobility projected their rank by ostentatious attire worn and
prohibited the rising middle class
from dressing above an imposed societal station.
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Conspicuous consumption was controlled by law
which allowed only a set few to wear luxury items.
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Luxury-wear on parade
15th C
Mois de mai
(month of May)
a page from the illuminated book of hours (prayer book),
Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
painted by famed Dutch miniaturist, the Limbourg brothers, circa 1412 – 1416
for their patron the French prince John, Duke de Berry
(image from wikimedia.org)
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Today dressing in extravagant clothing of
exquisite fabrication
jewel colours
intricate workmanship
elaborate details
is a daily event of being robed in attire fit for royalty
or seemingly so-
how wonderfully ‘sumptuous’ is that?
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Lux-wear on parade
21st C
everyday, everyone
(images from whowhatwear)
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(image from manofmany.com)
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(image from jaiperdumaveste.com)
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