La Mode Pratique, 1895, 4e année, No. 22 : Le Vendredi au Salon (...) 1895

Michel Berthaud's print, made around 1895, offers a glimpse into the fashionable world of Parisian salons. Note the elaborate hats worn by the women. Adorned with feathers, ribbons, and even small birds, these hats were not merely fashion statements. They were potent symbols of status and taste. Consider how such adornments echo earlier eras, like the extravagant headdresses of the French court or even the elaborate hairstyles of ancient civilizations. Such displays of ornamentation tap into a deep, primal impulse – a need to assert one’s position within a social hierarchy. This human desire for distinction manifests across cultures and epochs, from tribal headdresses to modern haute couture. The subconscious drive to adorn oneself and signal social status resonates even today. What psychological underpinnings might explain the cyclical return of such symbols of opulence?