“Vestis virum facit.” Clothes make the man – a proverb still pretty common nowadays was coined by no other than Erasmus in 1500, as the V&A’s catalogue states. Yes, in 1500 already. No matter if you agree or disagree that clothes make or break a man, clothes have always been playing an important role in how men (and women of course) wanted to be perceived. Clothes have always been and will always be playing an important role in social distinction. And while the goals of dressing well might have been similar for all (display of power, wealth, beauty, authority, knowledge, the membership or distinction of a social group etc.) the rules of the fashion game have always been different for men and women. Women’s Fashion has (almost) always been about adorning and decorating its wearers lavishly with all kinds of fabrics, colors, patterns and cuts whereas men’s fashion changed dramatically around 1800.