The most rapid and fundamental fashion changes occurred between 1789 and 1800. Initially, lightweight, almost sheer white fabrics became the new fashion. White became the dominant color, replacing the vibrant hues that had characterized Greek and Roman sculptures for centuries. This marked a significant shift in Neoclassical fashion.
The use of petticoats also underwent a revolutionary change; the most fashionable female silhouette was a very natural cylindrical shape, thus requiring few or no petticoats. Corsets were not as tightly worn as they were before or after this period because the ideal silhouette was a smooth cylindrical shape rather than a narrow waist with wide hips.
The most fashionable women of the time even dispensed with wearing chemises and petticoats. Thus, the characteristics of this period included wearing thin fabrics and not using petticoats, resulting in a very natural yet stylish feminine appearance. It is said that women would also wear flesh-colored tights (as if their thighs were blushing with modesty), very low-cut bodices, and gowns with long trains that could drag on the ground, large hats, and wild, voluminous hairstyles.
Speaking of hairstyles, it was common to leave large curls around the forehead and ears, while the hair at the back was loosely tied into a small bun or styled in an updo to mimic Greek and Roman styles. In the early 18th century, hair was parted in the middle, and some daring women even wore their hair short. It was also fashionable to tie tight curls around the ears.