France

It is difficult to separate the French from fashion. The swashbuckling chevaliers of the early 17th century, the magnificent balls of Renaissance royalty -- right up to the Revolution, the French court, renowned for its luxurious splendor and pointless excess, set the pace for European clothing. It was the desire of the French court for more and more stupendous clothing that originally put Paris on the fashion map. One of the country's greatest exports, French fashions have influenced contemporary dress on an international level for much of its history.

France takes a historical journey through the country's costume and culture -- through war, peace, Renaissance, and revolution; from the French aristocracy to priests, peasants, and revolutionaries. Find out about: The jousting tournaments of the Middle Ages and France's role in the evolution of menswear and uniforms. The extraordinary headdresses and extreme wigs promoted by Marie Antoinette. France's 1790s equivalent of punks, the incroyables, who were ridiculed for their exaggerated style of dress. Provincial costume variations and occupational clothes through the ages.