A Glimpse Into the Fashion of the Salons of the Second Empire


Publish by Gazette Drouot International

Around 1865, the Second Empire was still flourishing and balls abounded: weddings, births, public or private celebrations, any excuse is reason enough for a celebration. The elegant empress followed fashion trends, as did high society ladies; and crinolines, which appeared at the end of the reign of Louis-Philippe, became...

Around 1865, the Second Empire was still flourishing and balls abounded: weddings, births, public or private celebrations, any excuse is reason enough for a celebration. The elegant empress followed fashion trends, as did high society ladies; and crinolines, which appeared at the end of the reign of Louis-Philippe, became the must-have item in wardrobes. Daytime models would be more sober while evening models used to show a deep cleavage. All of them have one thing in common: their size increased to reach gigantic proportions in 1866. Reflecting this trend, this ball gown in white Chambéry gauze with sky-blue stripes, signed "Mme Vignon à Paris", got into the swing of things at €3,840, at Tessier & Sarrou et Associés (M. Grassat), on Tuesday, November 9 at Drouot.