Un vestiaire à soi. Féminités dissidentes au 19e siècle

This exhibition explores a little-known phenomenon of the 19th century: women adopting the masculine dress codes of their time. Conceived as a response to traditionally normative approaches to femininity in fashion exhibitions, it examines how women in France and the Anglo-Saxon world used clothing to challenge social expectations and redefine their place in society. Featuring nearly 500 works, including fashion pieces, accessories, paintings, posters, and approximately 150 previously unseen amateur photographs, the exhibition highlights figures such as George Sand, Rosa Bonheur, Marie-Antoinette, and Natalie Clifford Barney. A major highlight is the complete presentation of Rosa Bonheur’s wardrobe. Through fashion and photography, the exhibition investigates gender expression, social change, and the evolution of feminine identity from the 19th century into contemporary discussions.

Portrait, vers 1900. © New York, Lesbian Herstory Archives.