Abstract
Fashion for women has not always been about personal style and fashion trends, but women's fashion among the elite has served in ways to express a woman's identity, authority, and wealth to the public. By analyzing Elizabeth I, Marie Antoinette, and Victoria, noticeable differences and outcomes occur based on what they wore, how they wore their clothing, and the self-portraits they released to the public. This analysis suggests that elite women in European history went beyond fashion trends with their clothing choices and shaped a society with the clothing they wore.
Recommended Citation
Rupasinghe, Kaylee S.
(2026)
"Silk and Authority: The Political Meaning of Elite Women's Fashion in Europe,"
Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History: Vol. 9:
Iss.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ljh/vol9/iss1/5
Included in
European History Commons, Political History Commons, Social History Commons, Women's History Commons