The rue Saint-Honoré is a very old road dating from medieval times. It is on this street that Marie Antoinette purchased beauty products and it is said that her lover Fernsen procured the invisible ink he used to correspond with the queen.Today rue Saint Honoré is known worldwide for its luxury boutiques, this is the second Mecca of fashion after Paris' Avenue Montaigne. All major brands are here. This is an opportunity to talk about fashion.In France starting as early as the 14th century, fashion was an aristocratic whim that caused a sensation at the Court. It is what allowed the wealthy classes to distinguish themselves from the lower classes. At the court, we talked about costumes. They were not necessarily beautiful, but had to be "bling". The materials were rare and the fabrics were always rich and sumptuous.It was also during this period that we began to use scent (it must be said that at that time perfume largely replaced soap) and makeup. And it wasn't just reserved to women. Men loved to cover their face with a veil of powder, which gave them a whitish complexion that was very "trendy" at the time (a tanned complexion was the obsessive fear of the upper classes, as it would align them with the common people who worked in the fields).The history of fashion, however, really begins in the 19th century. The British designer and pioneer of Haute Couture, Charles Frederick Worth, was the first to have real models don his creations and showcase them in prestigious salons where a wealthy female clientele congregated.But it's a lady that will truly revolutionize fashion, and also women themselves, Coco Chanel. She invented a relaxing fashion that freed the woman's body from corsets and other restrictive apparel. She used flexible forms and pleasant and comfortable materials for the body. She revolutionized women's fashion by creating the first pair of pants for women, the first woman's suit, and popularizing jersey material, until then serving only for male clothing...The 20th century saw the emergence of some of its greatest creators, Cacharel and Yves Saint -Laurent to name a few, exceptional designers who worked only for a sparse, affluent clientele. The invention of electricity created industrialization, which in turn created the novelty of "confection" (garment manufacturing)- the ancestor of the ready-to-wear - which created a reason for the existence of department stores. For the first time in its history, clothing exits the dim working room, where mothers sewed sometimes awkwardly for their families. Clothing invades the shop windows of the big cities first, and soon the province as well. The early "mass fashion" phenomenon is starting its movement. And it is the face of our whole society that will change.Now, continue on the rue Castiglione by heading towards Rivoli Street. Go to the corner, staying on your right