The collections of the German Historical Museum

• Title: Pantaloon from the time of the French Revolution
• Origin: France
• Material: Linen, buttons made of bone
• Size: L: 106 cm

Pantaloons (long and wide pants) were part of the daily garments of workers, and especially seamen, who opposed the three estates. Even citizens used to wear them as an expression of solidarity and revolutionary conviction. Proudly they called themselves "sans-culottes" (without knee-breeches) to disassociate themselves from the "culottes", the higher estates that wore knee-breeches. Culotte or sans-culotte -- external features signified personal political attitudes.

In Europe's history of fashion and costumes, the pants of the French Revolution mark a turning point in the appearance of men, which from now on -- through the detours of fashion -- have been determined by long pants.