The costumes, dress and accessories worn during the period just prior to the French revolution were outrageous in their ornamentation, silhouette and style. Enormous sums were spent on clothing and hours were spent in daily dressing rituals by aristocrats. Their Queen, Marie Antoinette,  was nicknamed Madame Deficit and her excessive spending is often cited as one of the causes of the revolution.

In my Revolutionary Fashion series, digitally altered images of upper class eighteenth century women  are layered over traditional French toile de jouy fabrics, which are then embroidered or altered to bring the viewer’s attention to certain areas. While this work appears beautiful at first glance, there is a deeper level of meaning embedded in the pieces which requires a closer look. Not only is there a whimsical warning against fashionable decadence and the folly of extravagant fashion trends, but there is also a subtle message regarding the socio-political forces and class structure.