Describe the clothing pattern of France before the French Revolution.

(a) The sumptuary laws were the dress codes in France at the time of French Revolution. From about 1294, the people were expected to strictly follow these laws. The laws tried to control the behaviour of social inferiors, preventing them from wearing certain clothes, consuming certain foods and beverages and hunting game in certain areas.
(b) In medieval France, the items of clothing a person could purchase per year was
regulated, by his income as well as by social rank. For example’ only royalty could wear expensive materials like ermine and fur, or silk, velvet and brocade’ other classes were debarred from clothing themselves with materials that were associated with the aristocracy’ Thus, in short sumptuary laws were used to maintain social hierarchy.
(c) The ladies wore the sumptuous clothing, the elaborate headgear, and the lace edgings on the dress. They also had a corset inside the dress, which was meant to confine and shape their waist. The noblemen wore a long soldier’s coat, knee breeches, silk stockings and high heeled shoes. Both had elaborate wigs and, had their faces painted a delicate shade of pink, for the display of natural skin was considered unnatural