Gilded Age French Fashion: The House of Worth and Beyond

An in-depth look into the world of French couture fashion during the Gilded Age with author Elizabeth Block. 

The world of couture designers during the Gilded Age and the Belle Epoque went far beyond just the designers themselves. Houses such as Worth, Doucet and Paquin and many others created the stunning gowns and dresses worn by both Europe’s and America’s moneyed elite. But, the network of milliners, hairdressers, perfumers and even shippers and tax agents all made up the larger network that created this uniquely interdependent world. Author Dr. Elizabeth Block (Dressing Up: The Women Who Influenced French Fashion, MIT Press) takes us deep into the Parisian fashion world of the late 19th century for a unique and fascinating look to see just how these fashions were made, how much they really cost, how they were sold, and how they were shipped back to mansions of Fifth Avenue. Discover why the House of Worth is the most well-known today as well as some of the contributions of houses lesser known today such as Maison Felix.