Liberty Equality Fashion

Liberty Equality Fashion, by Anne Higonnet, tells the story of three extraordinary women: Joséphine Bonaparte, future consort of Napoléon; Térézia Tallien, the most beautiful woman in Europe; and Juliette Récamier, muse of intellectuals. These women discarded the rigid clothing regimes of the past, overcoming forced marriages and imprisonment during the Terror to become the first self-made fashion celebrities.

The Three Graces, as they were known, led a rebellion against corsets, petticoats, and enormous skirts, with their flowing garments symbolising freedom for modern women. This transformation marked the birth of global capitalism, shopping culture, and the rise of powerful style influencers.

Joséphine combined elements from the style of Black women from her Caribbean childhood with garments from India and Kashmir, creating a fusion of cultures and a bending of gender norms. Her close friend and style collaborator, Térézia, celebrated the female body and embraced her own erotic independence.

Juliette, on the other hand, championed a radical minimalism by posing for portraits dressed in pure-white, virginal gowns. After the French Revolution, a conservative reaction maintained women in restrictive fashion for the next two centuries, making the story of the Three Graces even more relevant today.