The Sun King, Louis XIV (1638–1715) launched haute couture, the business of fashion. It was a brilliant move. He made personal appearance important for social interaction.
At court, the king himself was impeccably dressed, and he required the same of his courtiers. Clothing had to fit perfectly, be made with beautiful fabrics, and be impeccably clean. This strict dress code affected every part of one’s life. The king required a certain etiquette of dress for every time of the day: dressing gowns for morning, day dress for the afternoon, and evening gowns for social events. Certain fabrics were made for each season (which we still use today): silk in summer, velvet in winter. These changes made aristocrats in France aware of their behavior and appearance.
