The Ladies' Paradise: Artifact Study

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

2014

Abstract

The Ladies’ Paradise takes its readers to the late nineteenth century when the development of department stores was revolutionizing business in Paris. Zola uses great detail in describing the departments, business tactics and social life within the Ladies’ Paradise. He also describes two large sales held by the store, the second of which is the “White Sale,” where the Paradise took all of their white garments and displayed them to be sold at a discounted price. A white piqué child’s coat found in the University of Rhode Island Textile Collection is similar to what would have been sold in Denise’s department during the sale.

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