La Femme et la Famille et Le Journal des Jeunes Personnes Réunis, Février 1886 : Parfumerie Oriz (...) 1886

P. Deferneville created this fashion plate for the February 1886 issue of *La Femme et la Famille*, a French magazine. Through carefully chosen attire, it presented an idealized image of bourgeois womanhood and domesticity. Published during the Belle Époque, the print reflects the era's emphasis on etiquette and consumer culture. These clothes were for women who did not work and is an image of the ideal woman as primarily a wife and mother. Each costume is designed to highlight the body while still conforming to the conventions of modesty and class. The woman on the left with the most elaborate costume signals that femininity was not just natural, but a performance. The clothing of the children reflects the different stages of childhood and the careful cultivation of gender roles from a young age. Consider that access to this magazine and the ability to replicate these fashions reinforced existing social hierarchies. But do take a moment to imagine the rustle of the fabrics, the chill of the winter air, and the delicate scent of the perfumes advertised on the page. While the image is about aspiration, there is still room to consider its emotional appeal.