When Karl Lagerfeld chose 18th century porcelain as inspiration for his Spring 2005 couture collection for Chanel, he perhaps read the mind of the curator of the Musée Galliéra, the museum of the history of fashion owned by the city of Paris. Drawing from extensive archival holdings, a new exhibition will spotlight evening gowns, redingotes and tail coats from the Century of Light. 135 pieces accompanied by paintings and rare documents make up the exhibition “Fashion in the Mirror: France and Holland at the time of Light”, set to open to the public on April 30.

During the 18th century, two different styles of fashion circulated Europe, drawing inspiration either from France or England. Holland fell directly under the spell of Paris, and the new exhibition plays on a mirroring effect. In a witty turn, a French model is placed directly beside a Dutch counterpart to demonstrate that “à la française” was de rigeur for elegant women in The Hague.

But fashion of the times was not limited solely to the aristocracy, and a major portion of the exhibition explores regional Dutch costumes.

MODES EN MIROIR :
la France et la Hollande au temps des Lumières

Musée Galliéra
10, avenue Pierre Ier de Serbie - 75 116 Paris.
30 April - 21 August 2005
Tel. : 01.56.52.86.00