Although neither the Cabinet des modes nor the Magasin des modes nouvelles françaises et anglaises exclusively appealed to women, the editor of the Magasin des modes nouvelles françaises et anglaises admitted that the periodical needed “to be more specifically intended for [women]” and that “[they] had to think of satisfying [women] first.” Oftentimes, two of the three plates in an issue represented female fashions. Moreover, the first plate that the Cabinet des modes published depicted a woman. These periodicals unevenly covered female fashions at least in part because they considered French women to be especially talented and more eager to participate in that realm; the editor of the Cabinet des modes justified his coverage of a fashion,
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The editors did not trust women’s ability to distinguish between good and bad fashions. When the editors did not approve of a new fashion, although they continued to fulfill their obligation to report it to their subscribers, they made their disapproval evident, claiming that it was their duty to save women from ridiculous mistakes. In one case, after describing a women’s fashion imitated from a ‘ridiculous’ fashion that was popular among young men, the editor of the Magasin des modes nouvelles françaises et anglaises stated, “we by no means think to be beholden to our subscribers, while we do not announce to them some fashions that are much too dangerous and much to ridiculous that are born and die after a very short time, we believe on the contrary to provide them a sort of service because many might be tempted to imitate all fashions, whatever they may be.” According to the Cabinet des modes, “a Woman, getting ready, always needs someone who she can consult to know if this Hairstyle, this Bonnet, this Hat, this Dress suits them well and if she can thus show herself with beauty and grace on the Promenades or in other public places.” By nominating themselves to fulfill this role, the editors suggested that a woman, despite her supposed expertise in the realm of fashion, was not capable of making her own decisions without the advice of a man. They expected women to turn to them not only for advice during special occasions, but for counsel regarding their everyday
The editors did not trust women’s ability to distinguish between good and bad fashions. When the editors did not approve of a new fashion, although they continued to fulfill their obligation to report it to their subscribers, they made their disapproval evident, claiming that it was their duty to save women from ridiculous mistakes. In one case, after describing a women’s fashion imitated from a ‘ridiculous’ fashion that was popular among young men, the editor of the Magasin des modes nouvelles françaises et anglaises stated, “we by no means think to be beholden to our subscribers, while we do not announce to them some fashions that are much too dangerous and much to ridiculous that are born and die after a very short time, we believe on the contrary to provide them a sort of service because many might be tempted to imitate all fashions, whatever they may be.” According to the Cabinet des modes, “a Woman, getting ready, always needs someone who she can consult to know if this Hairstyle, this Bonnet, this Hat, this Dress suits them well and if she can thus show herself with beauty and grace on the Promenades or in other public places.” By nominating themselves to fulfill this role, the editors suggested that a woman, despite her supposed expertise in the realm of fashion, was not capable of making her own decisions without the advice of a man. They expected women to turn to them not only for advice during special occasions, but for counsel regarding their everyday