Cravats grow higher, as if they mean to protect the throat. The highest cravats in public life will be worn by Citizen Antoine Saint-Just, of the National Convention and the Committee of Public Safety. In the dark and harrowing days of '94, an obscene feminine inversion will appear: a thin crimson ribbon, worn round a bare white neck.
In Hilary Mantel's "A Place of Greater Safety," cravats are depicted as symbols of status and protection, particularly as they rise higher around the throat. This fashion trend reflects the significance of appearances in public life, emphasizing the character of Citizen Antoine Saint-Just, a prominent figure in the National Convention and the Committee of Public Safety during tumultuous times.
As the narrative unfolds in the dark year of 1794, a disturbing transformation occurs with the introduction of a crimson ribbon worn around a bare neck, symbolizing a disturbing femininity amidst chaos. This evokes a sense of foreboding and highlights the intersection of gender, power, and fashion during the Revolution, capturing the era's unsettling atmosphere and the complexities within, as represented through the shifting attire of its characters.