Adoption of Neoclassical Styles by Western Societies in Modern Era

This essay delves into the discovery and adoption of Neoclassical styles by Western societies throughout modern and post-modern eras, focusing on its cultural significance, particularly in fashion. Originating in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Neoclassical fashion, characterized by high-waisted dresses and decorative details, gained prominence through figures like Josephine Bonaparte and the French Revolution. The essay traces the evolution of this style in Britain and France, highlighting the influence of empire waist dresses, the impact of war on fashion trends, and the contributions of designers like Paul Poiret, who revolutionized dressmaking by liberating women from corsets. It further examines the continued relevance of Neoclassical fashion in contemporary society, noting its presence on runways, red carpets, and its accessibility across various social classes. Desklib provides a platform to explore similar essays and academic resources for students.

ESSAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

Essay: How Neoclassical styles have been discovered and adopted by the west societies
throughout modern and post-modern societies? and what does it mean by Neoclassical fashion
culturally?
Figure 1: Neoclassical. Neoclassical dress, Titanic Movie.19th century style
INTRODUCTION
Neoclassical constitutes to adaption of classical in fashion, art, architecture, music etc.
(Hollander, 2016). Neoclassical fashion refers to the high waisted clothes, the usual trend in the
United States generalized by Josephine Bonaparte, Napoleon's wife( the French emperor). The
style is made up of narrow, fleshing bodices, high or large puffy skirts. This trend of
Neoclassical dresses or fashion started at the end period of 17th century and at the starting of 18th
century (Lee, 2019). Usually, in these dresses, the sleeves have some sort of decoration such as
ruffles, beads or bows, therefore the style has a close relation to my fashion visualizations in the
aesthetics. This is due to the loose fitting tunics, high waisted, high and puffy skirts and the
decorative details in my visualisations, in addition, the extreme passion I have for the 18th
Century fashion which initially sparked in my mind while watching the Titanic movie. The

movie introduced the ranges of different Neoclassical dresses through various characters in the
movie which inspired me to use Neoclassical in today’s visualisations.
After further research into Neoclassical style through the centuries, I soon became
overwhelmed with the value of Neoclassical fashion in the 18th century in regards to banning
corset in response to freeing women from physical and social discomforts and the French
revolution (1789). This essay is completely based upon the adaption of Neoclassical style that
was adopted by west societies throughout modern and post-modern society. As starting points, I
will start to research on how Neoclassical style was discovered and adapted throughout different
countries in Britain and France and how today’s designer use Neoclassical style in fashion and
settling nerves about its cultural appropriation.
High-waisted regency gown style( a type of neoclassical fashion) became popular
through the French revolution for which Neoclassical range was promoted in Europe during the
18th Century. High -waisted regency gown was initially inspired by Marie Antoinette in the
1790's, a dress with robe joined together and tied in the front. Later on, in early 19 the century,
Josephine Bonapa the fashion icon took the position of Marie Antoinette and influenced the slim,
high-waisted, gossamer thin chemise dress.

Figure 2: High waisted regency gown

Figure 3
MAIN BODY
In the 1800's, the empire waist dresses and classical Greek lines became popular in
England which were also worn by Jane Austen’s characters in her novels. Empire refers to

Napoleon and it’s the name given to France within that period. Empire waist dresses were a
priority to the French revolution for the reflection of French values in terms of simple fabrics and
lines for egalitarian than complex court dresses. An empire style dress has a high waist that has
reappeared often for the past 200 years. The style initially appeared in the 1790's and at the
beginning of 19th century, they were made of lightweight, soft fabrics accumulated under breasts.
Throughout history, France has always been influenced fashion styles of western
societies and has commonly shared styles and often followed the same styles as England.
In the 1800's, the empire waist dresses and classical Greek lines became popular in England
which were also worn by Jane Austen’s characters in her novels. Empire refers to Napoleon and
it’s the name given to France within that period. Empire waist dresses were a priority to the
French revolution for the reflection of French values in terms of simple fabrics and lines for
egalitarian than complex court dresses. An empire style dress has a high waist that has
reappeared often for the past 200 years. The style initially appeared in the 1790's and at the
beginning of 19 the century, they were made of lightweight, soft fabrics accumulated under
breasts.

Fig
ure 4
While Britain and France were at war, styles in the two countries changed. Women did
not know what the enemy was wearing, so each country developed its own look.
Around late 1811 century during medieval times, Gothic style impressed England's
fashion. During this period dresses no longer had the pure classical Greek lines and bodies
progressed into more shapes and shoulder seams widened. In England, bodice turned to

Elizabethan style, ruffles emerged on the bodice and skirts embellished with padding and
flounces and waistlines lowered to the normal line and during the war, French dresses remained
with high waistline evolved with an A-line or bell shape
After the war in 1815, the waistlines in England rose as English beginning to chase
French fashion. The French also copied the Gothic styles and waistlines were lowered again.
Figure 5
The Gothic impression of the middle ages continued and the empire style withered as
waists lowered to the normal waistline after years of rising and falling.
The Gothic influence of the Middle Ages continued and the Empire style faded as waists
dropped to the normal waistline after years of rising and falling. In 1825 bodice expanded into a
v shape and women started to wear very tight corsets for a trig look, although the lower classes
wore high waists clothes until 1830. During this period sleeves became larger and cut into a
circle balloon-like sleeve.
Paul Poiret was one of the most successful fashion designer who was known for his
dresses design that were influenced by Orientalism and Neoclassicism as well as Surrealism.
Around 1944, Paul Poiret, the French fashion designer known as the king of fashion declared
war on the corset with success as others had been trying to achieve this since 1850 but with little

success. Corset was a typical convention in the 16th Century, designed for women till the end of
19th century in western societies which used to restricted comfort, physical movement and many
women suffered from indigestion and breathing problems due to unnatural format and tightness.
Furthermore, according to the studies it was said that waists between 18 to 14 inches and even 12
inch were reported due to wearing corset . Paul said Like all the great revolutions, mine was
carried out in the name of Liberty.
Poiret was significantly famous for his Neoclassical styles, for the replacement of the
corset with the brassiere, and for the presentation of modern straight line unlike S-curve of the
corset, giving a free play to the stomach and to dilate without restrictions. Paul draped designs
body like tunics, high waisted, straight and puffy skirts, and incorporated veiled bodices with
heavier transparent materials. Paul's designs followed the natural contours of the female body
that therefore reduced pressures on the diaphragm and stomach for freeing women from physical
discomforts and social barriers due to the corset. This was one of the biggest revolution in
dressmaking. Due to this there was a shift in the thinking of the people and focused on skills of
draping instead of skills of tailoring (De Young, 2017).

Figure 6

Figure 7
In today's society, the empire waist dresses are the favourite selection for formal
occasions and weddings, which is still seen on the runway and red carpet due to the flattering and
comfortable fit. One of the best thing about this Neoclassical fashionable dresses was that these
kind of dresses could have been worn by any kind of women despite of her class. Neoclassical
Fashion has been worn by a range of classes such as low, middle, celebrities and royals during
various centuries and added to this, 2019 Oscar has seen massive numbers of high waisted
fashions.