In the confusion that followed the years of the French Revolution (1789-1799), there was no uniform style in fashion, as people was mostly concerned with other, more pressing matters. Therefore, clothing style was often used as an expression of political opinion: Regency Revolutionaries wore the almost ankle-length, drainpipe trousers taken from dockers and sailors, the so-called pantaloons, which caused such a stir that they went down in history as sans-culottes (literally without knee breeches). Uniforms were generally popular among men; you could not go wrong with such a fashionable item. In French women's fashion, silk and satin disappear entirely at first, with an orientation to men's fashion, that is, dresses disappear and are replaced by jackets, combined with skirts instead of trousers. Artist propagate ancient democracies and, therefore, antique garments. For example, the renowned Jacques Louis David was not just one of the greatest painters, but also one of the greatest fashion designers. Indeed, he was the major proponent and driver of the à-la-greque fashion. Chemises made of thin cotton, simply cut, amply gathered under the chest, partly without sleeves and only collected at the shoulder, were extremely popular. In the actual Empire period, beginning around 1804 with the coronation of Napoleon, women's fashion set itself apart again with bodices with attached skirts, featuring square cuts and laced sleeves. Not rarely, these garments were made of such thin cotton, muslin or batiste, that barely weighted 250 grams. Given that these offered no protection from the weather, they were often combined with an overdress, a sort of tunic, called robe en tablier. The train resurfaced, often stretching endlessly and often produced as a separate piece of clothing, which was attached to a short Spencer jacket. Napoleon, in an attempt to put the badly battered silk industry of his country back on its feet, introduced silk dresses back in the Court. Wearing foreign fabrics, coming for example from India or England, was forbidden under penalty. Shapes were however contradictory: on the one hand, they were still oriented to the Greek and Roman antiquity, and, on the other one, puffs and slots emerged and the lace collar of the 16th Century resurfaced. Napoleon's wars of conquest spread poverty and misery across Europe, preventing thereby the development of a fashion business. Dresses were simple and luxury items had little or no use. Outside of ball dresses, which featured a low-cut neck and limited finery, the cut was higher again. Sleeves were extended down to the hands. At times, they fitted puffed upper sleeves. Skirts became stiff and tight and ultimately fell down from the top in a tube-like fashion, negating the shapely figure underneath. Instead, they were adorned with ruffles, frills and spikes. Coats became fashionable again, usually as coat dresses. In 1808, fur coats were admired for the first time in Paris. By the end of the century, fur was only found inside the garment. Spencer jackets and scarfs still enjoyed ample popularity. The corset, however - indispensable in the past centuries - fell entirely out of fashion. Nevertheless, since not every woman boasted the ideal size for the fashionable dress cut, corsets were still manufactured for this unfortunate group. The cut was designed to lift the breasts and press them against each other. Now, as corsets often extend over the hips, the body can be laced narrower as a whole. In men's fashion, we initially encounter the so-called Incroyables and Merveilleuses - the unbelievable and miraculous - which became celebrated by presenting the most untidy and dishevelled looks. Thus, utmost care was taken to ensure that tails coats fitted as poorly as possible, vests were wrongly buttoned, hair fell shaggy and wild, scarves (one wraps itself around the same time more) were inappropriately thick, and boot cuffs were sloppily dropped. In parallel, gentlemen wear the frock coat or redingote. In more moderate circles, people wore simple cut tail frocks without waist break, the collar becomes taller and the lapel wider, whereas the black colour starts enjoying increasing popularity. The bicorn is a popular headgear, both in the form of Wellington, in which the tips points towards the front and back, as well as the à l'androsmane, whose tips are aligned laterally. Gradually, the cylinder begins to gain ground, which can be further asserted by the end of the century. The vest, sometimes so short that it ends just below the chest, usually presents a double-breasted closure. The length of the pantaloons, trousers, ranges from short to knee-calf length. Even before the French Revolution, England found the bourgeois fashion interesting and attractive.

England becomes the leader in menswear. George Brummel establishes the dandy fashion, to which men like Lord Byron and Balzac adhere. For Brummel, the elegance of a garment lies in its cut and fabric quality.
Anything artificial is frowned upon, whereas muted colours in brown, dark blue and green and grey are preferred. Regency fashion in England Even before the French Revolution, England found the bourgeois fashion interesting and attractive. England becomes the leader in menswear. George Brummel establishes the dandy fashion, to which men like Lord Byron and Balzac adhere. For Brummel, the elegance of a garment lies in its cut and fabric quality.
Anything artificial is frowned upon, whereas muted colours in brown, dark blue and green and grey are preferred. Elegant gentlemen change three to four times a day. Thus, within a week, at least 20 shirts, 24 handkerchiefs, 9-10 summer trousers, 30 scarves and a dozen vests and socks are used. Dandies, who value a perfect fitting suit above all, usually end up wearing a corset.
Ties play a very important role: "La cravatte cèst l’homme“ [the tie makes the man], this quote from Balzac represents men's motto in the 1st half of the 19th Century. At least for the evening attire, ties must be donned in crisp white purity. In women's fashion, the robe "à l'anglaise" becomes "fashion a la grecque". English clothing, however, remains more moderate.