Enlightenment and the Colonial period History of clothing and textiles

during 18th century, distinction made between full dress worn @ court , formal occasions, , undress or everyday, daytime clothes. decades progressed, fewer , fewer occasions called full dress had disappeared end of century. full dress followed styles of french court, rich silks , elaborate embroidery reigned. men continued wear coat, waistcoat , breeches both full dress , undress; these made of same fabric , trim, signalling birth of three-piece suit.

women s silhouettes featured small, domed hoops in 1730s , 1740s, displaced formal court wear side hoops or panniers later widened as 3 feet either side @ court of marie antoinette. fashion reached heights of fantasy , abundant ornamentation, before new enthusiasms outdoor sports , country pursuits , long-simmering movement toward simplicity , democratization of dress under influence of jean-jacques rousseau , american revolution led entirely new mode , triumph of british woollen tailoring following french revolution.

for women s dresses, indian cottons, printed chintzes, imported europe in large numbers, , towards end of period simple white muslin gowns in fashion.