Civil Regime Clothing in the Age of Revolution

During times of political civil regime clothing such as the French and American Revolutions, civil regime clothing took on a new significance. As revolutions sought to dismantle old regimes, clothing became a powerful symbol of resistance and identity. The aristocratic fashion of the past, with its opulent fabrics and excessive ornamentation, was viewed with disdain by revolutionaries who sought to create a more egalitarian society. Revolutionary leaders, such as those in France, opted for simpler, more austere clothing that reflected their rejection of the old order. The iconic “sans-culottes” in France, for example, wore working-class attire, including long trousers instead of the knee breeches favored by the aristocracy, symbolizing their break from the ancien régime.