James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick

What people wore

Rural women's colors and aprons

Women in rural areas typically wore clothing in shades of black, gray, and red, often completing their attire with a protective apron known as a devantier.

Daily life

Water meant trips to sources

In Paris, water was commonly hauled or bought, and shared stairwells/courtyards were practical places for water carrying, storage, and laundry.

Work

Memorable facts of everyday work life

Laborers commonly adopted coffee with milk for breakfast as an economical way to sustain energy until the evening. Additionally, many workers in that era enjoyed about 80 to 85 days of complete rest per year due to various religious and local feast days.

Music

The Popular Bourrée Dance

The bourrée was a popular, quick, and joyful dance performed in couples, which originated in regions like Auvergne or the Basque Country.

At the table

Family Budget Spent on Bread

During the Old Regime, expenditures on bread accounted for 50 to 60 percent of a family's total budget.

Getting around

Walking as common travel

Ordinary people, such as peddlers and pilgrims, typically traveled on foot at a pace of 20 to 30 kilometers per day. Walking was so common that travelers frequently wore out a pair of shoes every 15 days.

What it cost

Servant earnings and clothing costs

In 1692, a young servant earned 75 livres per year, but spent over 35 livres on a single wardrobe update that included a secondhand wig.