The history of fashion in France : $b or, the dress of women from the Gallo-Roman period to the present time

Spanning more than a millennium, this lively illustrated guide walks listeners through the ever‑changing wardrobe of French women, from the simple woad‑dyed tunics of the Gauls to the opulent gowns of the Renaissance court. The authors weave together archaeology, literary quotes and contemporary observations, revealing how everything from Roman stolas to medieval coifs reflected shifting ideas of modesty, status and regional identity.

As the narrative moves forward, the influence of the Crusades, Italian imports and courtly spectacle comes into focus, showing how new fabrics, silhouettes and accessories—like the towering hennin or the delicate “hoche‑plis” of the early 1500s—sparked both admiration and controversy. Listeners will discover the social codes that dictated colour, ornamentation and even the length of a skirt, gaining a vivid sense of how fashion acted as a mirror of French culture long before today’s runway shows.