Petit Courrier des Dames, 1829, No. 63 / 635 : Chapeau de gros de Naples... 1829

This fashion plate, made in Paris in 1829, shows us the height of fashionable headwear. Published in *Petit Courrier des Dames*, it gives us a snapshot of the visual codes circulating among the upper classes in France. The journal itself, a prominent force in shaping Parisian style, reflects the growing commercialization of fashion. Note the descriptions of the hats, they include the addresses of the milliners. This directs consumption and gives insight into the relationship between fashion, commerce and the construction of social identity during this period. The detailed rendering of each hat, with its ribbons, flowers, and delicate fabrics, reveals the artistry involved in crafting these status symbols. Fashion plates like these offer rich material for social historians. By consulting related documents, such as advertisements, personal letters, and accounts of daily life, we can begin to understand the role of fashion in shaping the cultural landscape of 19th-century Paris.