Vive la Revolution

Before: large full skirts, tight waist, low cut tops, and all made of fine fabrics like silk, velvet, and laces much like pre-pirate Keira Knightley in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" (1660-1689 era dress)

 

 

 

After: Simpler dresses, affordable fabrics like cotton and linens after 1789-1799. The reduction of the use of fancy fabric and more elaborate dresses made it harder to distinguish between the classes (much like the purpose of the French Revolution)