French Brothers in Black

By the 1790s, the republicanism of the American and French Revolutions had overthrown the aristocratic aesthetics of the 18th century. Bby the 1820s, with coal ash blanketing European cities, romanticists brooding, anti-aristocratic sentiments strong and a Protestant ethos of thriftiness prevailing, black was back. In the 19th century, simple black became republican, workmanlike and masculine. Republican governments and the male business class from all of Europe, Latin America and many parts of Asia adopted the black suit, which was a peculiar mix of British fashion, French tailoring, the Croatian tie and the Burgundian-Spanish-Mayan black. By the 19th century, many men in the European sphere of influence had once again adopted black coats and breeches, along with white collars, to project gravity, self-control and austerity. Men’s fashion today remains remarkably similar.