'Vêtement dit à la Créole' from Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français Pierre-Thomas LeClerc Paris, France, 1779 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 44.1438
Portrait of a young Josephine de Beauharnais wearing a checked headwrap Michel Garnier Paris, France, 1790 Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, 2015.079

In the late 1700s and early 1800s a vogue for 'Creole' style brought African Caribbean fashion to Europe. Influential white 'Creole' women born and raised in the Caribbean brought 'Creole' muslin gowns, 'Creole' jewellery and 'Creole' accessories - including the Madras handkerchief headwrap - to Europe's fashion capitals, re-shaping European fashion. Among the most famous 'Creoles' was Josephine de Beauharnais (later Bonaparte), who was born and raised in Martinique. Beauharnais reportedly enjoyed wearing Madras headwraps, which were said to give her a 'piquant appearance'.

Related Database Records