Madame de sevigne fashion in letters

Fashion in the Letters of Madame de Sévigné

Presented to Suzanne Lussier
History of Art and Dress

Instituto Marangoni, May 2012

Introduction
You may believe me, for you know I am an admirer of fashion
(Madame de Sévigné, 1811a, p.143)

The subject of this essay will mostly focus on the fashion in Mme de Sévigné’s letters and the 17th century court’s style.
During King Louis XIV reign in the second half of the 17th century many great names of the time that are today known, witnessed this era. For now they are great sources of historical research and facts.
Madame de Sévigné was one of the court great observers at the time, mainly in Paris. She related and described many matters through her letters to her daughter, Madame de Gringan and her friends but mainly to her daughter. One of those topics was fashion and its description and point of view. As her quote states, Mme de Sévigné was very fond of style and fashion subjects and followed closely its updates from time to time.
The sources for this work are mainly centred in the reading of the letters. However it will be used 17th century publications as sources as well. Therefore the descriptions intent to be made will be richer and complete and also it will be possible to make an evaluation of different subjects making possible some comparisons.

It was in 1626 that Marie de Rabutin – Chantal, later known as Mme Sévigné, was born. Her parents died when she was just a child. In 1636 her parental cares were assumed by her grandfather, However he died a year after. By this means, her uncle, Christophe de Coulanges, Abbé de Livre took the caretaker position of the child and raised her as his own. He provided her all her needs and much important, a good education. In 1647 she got married to Henry de Sévigné also known as marquis de Sévigné. As a fruit of this marriage Mme de Sévigné gave birth to two children, Charles de Sévigné and Françoise Marguerite de Sévigné.