Chapter 1
The ghost in the seams of Paris
Chapter 2
Manila tropicalizes the Victorian hoop
Chapter 3
São Paulo electrifies the Baroque
YOUR GOAL
Master of The Met's fashion time machine
Ch 1 · The ghost in the seams of Paris
themet The Parisian Ghost
A silhouette of light, Worth's gown in the dark, breathing again.
themet A stunning 1770s French court gown in the Met's archive serves as the ultimate design blueprint.
themet Modern French designers replace heavy historical brocade with sleek, structured scuba fabrics.
BETA
themet Build modern outfits from historical garments to discover how classic fashion design evolves.
Fun Fact
Courtly width: Some 18th-century French court gowns were so wide that women had to enter rooms sideways through double doors.
Glossary
seam (noun)
A line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together in a garment. During the Nazi occupation, Parisian couturier Madame Grès stitched Stars of David inside her gowns' hidden seams.
A line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together in a garment. During the Nazi occupation, Parisian couturier Madame Grès stitched Stars of David inside her gowns' hidden seams.
Quiz
What material was historically used to give 18th-century French court gowns their wide pannier hoop shape?
Quiz
Which 18th-century French queen is most famously associated with extravagant court fashions?
Quiz
Where is the Metropolitan Museum of Art's famous Costume Institute physically located?
Quiz
In what year was the Met's Costume Institute originally founded as the Museum of Costume Art?
Quiz
What modern technology allows designers to cut highly intricate lace patterns into synthetic leather instantly?
Quiz
How did 18th-century French court dresses maximize their shimmer under candlelit ballroom conditions?