“To the Grand Mogol”: every woman from polite society rushed to this store in order to be dressed by Rose Bertin, known for being Marie-Antoinette’s milliner. Nicknamed the “Minister of Fashion,” Rose Bertin was not a revolutionary! She refused to follow her competition’s lead, which launched into “dresses of equality” or used and abused tricolor fabrics. Loyal to the queen, she continued to deliver her clothing even after she was arrested, while simultaneously selling elegant cockades, probably out of political precaution.
26 rue de Richelieu, Rose Bertin’s Former Boutique
Gazette on Queen Marie-Antoinette’s Attire for the Year 1782
As of 1789, the cockade established itself as the symbol of the “patriots,” who were then also called “revolutionaries.” At the beginning, they were slapped together rather haphazardly: multicolored ribbons pinned to a person’s clothing. However, little by little, as the colors blue, white and red became essential, the cockade took on its definitive form. In 1793, it even became mandatory in the public space, in order to fight against supporters of the Ancien Regime. Some shopkeepers opened fancy stores. However, in Paris, there were also many wandering merchants for those who did not have the same type of means. Used to selling fabric, it was often women, and sometimes very young girls, who sold them at reduced prices in the street.
