Throughout much of the 18th century, the essentials of fashion remained the same. Of course, there were changes (a robe volante looks nothing like a robe à la polonaise), but there was a general look I’m sure we’re all familiar with: ¾ sleeves, sacque-backed gowns, lace, and ruffles, etc. Towards the end of the century though, fashion changed dramatically, with the French Revolution (1789-1799) playing a large part in this shift.
In the early 1780s, a major revolution in 18th-century fashion came about with Marie-Antoinette's chemise à la reine (contemporarily known as the robe en chemise) (fig. 2) [1]. Most commonly made of lightweight fabrics like muslin or gauze, the dress shocked the public, as it resembled a chemise, an undergarment. The dress is known for being very fluffy, with lots of gathered material and ruffles around the neckline and the hem. [2] Colorful sashes tied around the waist completed the look. [3] The chemise à la reine is a noteworthy dress, not only because of its shocking similarities to undergarments, but also its structure. Before this, most 18th century ensembles were put on in 2 pieces. First, on top of the foundation layers, you would put on the petticoat that is tied around the waist. Then you would put on the jacket, or bodice with an attached overskirt, secured in place with pins, or later, hooks, and eyes. [4] The chemise à la reine, however, was only one piece that you could easily slip on. It did not require bulky panniers (skirt hoops) underneath the skirts and was quite the departure from the highly structured clothing worn previously. [5] Though the gown was initially shocking to some, its relaxed look and lightweight fabric became popular and it remained fashionable for individuals to wear for the better part of a decade. [6]
During this period, a more natural body shape came into style; stays (corsets) went from being fully-boned to half-boned [7] and the bust area was given a “pigeon-breasted” look with strategically placed ruffles and/or fichus. [8] This silhouette was popular from the 1780s to the mid-1790s, until another shift began to occur. This change saw the waistline getting higher, until it rested under the bust. Because of this new position of the waist, the traditional, conical shape of stays (fig. 3) from the previous era did not work as well. The earlier style of stays compressed the breasts, but the new fashionable shape had them in a fuller and more natural position. [9] In response to this, a transitional style of stays appeared (figs. 4, 5). 
This new style of stays features separate cups for the breasts and does not focus on shaping the stomach area, as that would be hidden under skirts. There are many different variations of these transitional stays. Figure 4
retains the tabs of the previous version and laces up the front and back, whereas Figure 5 loses the tabs, has no back lacing and the front fastens with lacing and buckles.
This period of fashion is called Directoire. It is named after the French Directory government, which lasted from 1795 to about 1800. [10] This look was completely different from anything else in the 18th century. While my focus here is more specific to France, this style was popular throughout Europe and America, with some regional variations. [11] Directoire clothing was known for being very drapey, with white dresses that had yards of fine fabric gathered up for the skirts. This era was all about rejecting the structured formal clothing and the brightly colored fabrics of the former aristocracy, instead of adopting lightweight, white dresses. [12] 
This style was very inspired by the idea of what ancient Greek and Roman dress looked like, as can be seen in figure 6. Colorful shawls were a popular accessory [13], as well as reticules (little handbags), which replaced the pockets that had previously been tied around the waist in the previous decades. [14] Since these new skirts were much narrower and more sheer, and the waistline so raised, the old style of pockets simply did not work with the new silhouette.
One interesting trend during this time period was the emphasis on maternity. Some women started padding their stomach area to give the illusion of pregnancy. [15] In a quote from 1794, a man remarked “When our grandmothers were pregnant they wore jumps [a supportive garment that could be worn in place of stays] to conceal it. Our modern ladies, who are not pregnant, wear pads to carry the semblance of it… Our grandmothers had shame, while their descendants had none.” [16]
Obviously, that man did not much care for the new fashions. That was by no means an unpopular opinion, as this new style was unlike anything seen before. The dresses were made of lightweight fabric and clung to women’s bodies and were often quite sheer. Some daring fashionistas in Paris left their shoulders bare, and ditched their petticoats and stays, leaving not much left for the imagination. [17] Though those extreme versions of this fashion were not universal, satirists drew many exaggerated caricatures to mock the new mode. [18]
In Special Collections, we have a collection of hand-painted fashion plates (figs. 7, 8), that artists created for the Work Projects Administration (WPA) Pennsylvania Extension. The WPA was created during the Great Depression to create more job opportunities [19]. These fashion plates are not the most historically accurate, especially in their little details, but they are a good illustration of the drastic change of silhouette over the course of around 6 years. (Please note that though the plates label the Directoire Period as 1789-1800, it started in 1795).
A 1797 satire by Alexis Chataigier is another great example of the silhouette change during this period. In it, a couple dressed in the Directoire style see a couple dressed in the old aristocratic fashions with panniers and wigs, and laugh at them, saying “Ah! Quelle antiquité!!!” (Ah! What antiquity!!!), while the aristocratic couple exclaimed about the new fashion in horror, “Oh! Quelle folie que la nouveauté…: (Oh! What folly is novelty…) [20]. This is also a good demonstration of the differing opinions on this style.
The last decades of the 1700s were quite literally a revolutionary time period. As such, the fashion of this time also followed this revolutionary trend. Starting with the chemise à la reine, and ending with the Directoire style, fashion became something, unlike anything 18th-century people had seen before. Though opinions on it were mixed, it was an important style that ultimately played a part in the evolution of fashion that led to what we wear today.
1780-1789, FIT Fashion History Timeline, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu
Le Costume, vol. 4- Louis XVI- Directoire by Jacques Ruppert, page 29
1780-1789, FIT Fashion History Timeline, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu
The Writer’s Guide to Costume: 18th Century Gown Closures, mimicofmodes.com
A Stitch in Time, season 1 episode 6
The Chemise à la Reine, thefashionhistorian.com
500 Years of Women’s Corsets, Stays, and Bras: A Dress Historian Explains Bustlines and Necklines, by Abby Cox, YouTube
Magasin des Modes Nouvelles Françaises et Anglaises, 11 février 1789 edition, page 58
500 Years of Women’s Corsets, Stays, and Bras: A Dress Historian Explains Bustlines and Necklines, by Abby Cox on YouTube
Directory, Encyclopedia Britannica
Parisian Milliner’s Advice in 1801 to a Visiting Lady: Regency Fashion, janeaustensworld.com
Directoire Style Fashion of Women 1795-1800, hisour.com
1790-1799, FIT Fashion History Timeline, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu
The History of Underclothes, by C. Willett and Phillis Cunnington, page 74
Directoire Style Fashion of Women 1795-1800, hisour.com
The History of Underclothes, by C. Willett and Phillis Cunnington, page 71
Directoire Style Fashion of Women 1795-1800, hisour.com
Parisian Milliner’s Advice in 1801 to a Visiting Lady: Regency Fashion, janeaustensworld.com
Museum Extension Project Costume Plates, 1940-1943, Archives of American Art, aaa.si.edu
1790-1799, FIT Fashion History Timeline, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu
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