Reading Blog -- Oct. 15th

The nineteenth century bourgeoisie played a big role in the politics and economic development. They are educated and wealthier than most of the people in the society. When the bourgeoisie population grows larger and wider, Bourgeoisie spent a lot of time on signifying their clothing opposed to the working class. The most important function of Bourgeoisie’s clothing is to distinguish their identities, for example to emphasize the difference between Bourgeoisie and the working class.

The nineteenth century textile industry influenced the contemporary dress deeply. It improved the living standard and the development of the ready-made industry. This makes middle class people own their dresses easier than before. The lifestyle of bourgeois is like a starter of cloth making industry. They change the situation that only wealthy people can hire a tailor to design and make clothes for them.  

        After the French Revolution, men’s clothing was mainly dark green and dark blue. Wearing darker color shows the difference between the idleness and sumptuousness of aristocratic than the austerity and asceticism of bourgeois. The ideal of proper gentleman rose between the bourgeois. After destroying royal absolutism and winning the right to sit in Parliament, they dressed in darker color to show their taste and the ability to consume. The social class of bourgeois is between aristocrat and working class, which make bourgeois want to separate them from the lower class but still maintain the nobility sense of their identity.

        What is interesting in this book is that women were the ones who express her husband’s wealth. A man would wear black or any dark color but the woman would wear something pink and colorful to display their family’s glory and power. I am not sure about if this phenomenon still existing in today’s society but a woman’s appearance is still more brilliant and vivid than her husband.

Philippe Perrot wrote in the book that in nineteenth-century streets the top hats covered every bourgeois head. Although top hat’s physical shape makes any physical activities completely impossible. The top hat is designed to incorporate bourgeois propriety, through its stiffness and material. And by abandoning feathers or embroidery, the top hat makes bourgeois more propriety than aristocrat or working class.

        This gives me a more clear view on how does the top hat developed since nineteenth century from fancy hat for nobles to a more clear and humble hat for bourgeois. Clothing can not only reflect but also inculcate beliefs, values, and aspirations. Maybe a top hat is a small and common object in nineteen century society but the meaning of wearing it should be something important and essential.