Tout-Paris

Le Tout-Paris ("everyone in Paris") is a French expression referring to the fashionable and affluent elite of the city, who frequent fashionable events and places, and establish trends in upper-class culture. It is equivalent to the "jet set" elsewhere.

The expression tout-Paris was used in the 17th century to refer to "high society" among the aristocratic inhabitants of the city of Paris. It was used in 1660 by Nicolas Boileau in his Satires to refer to the influential members of Paris society who made Pierre Corneille's play El Cid popular, in the famous sentence, "In vain, a minister sought support against El Cid—Tout Paris supported Chimene in love with Rodrigue" Boileau also used the expression in Chant III: "Where tout Paris as a crowd bears its sufferings".Voltaire and Jean le Rond D'Alembert also used the expression in their correspondence.

The current use of the expression tout-Paris dates from the Belle Epoque era of 19th century Paris. Historian Anne Martin-Fugier dates it to the beginning of the 19th century, when in the aftermath of the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon, when the non-aristocratic elites of the city began playing a role at the top of the city's affluent culture, forming a new social class.

A group made up of writers, politicians, bankers and prominent artists, this community lived in fashionable neighbourhoods, went to the theatre, and attended receptions at embassies. It also embodied a certain idea of Parisians' "good taste" ("bon goût"), setting trends with its pastimes, such as horse racing and holidays at the seaside. The activities of Tout-Paris were noted in the mass media.

One article in Le Gaulois, from August 24, 1895, titled "Mondanités : Paris hors Paris" (Worldly events: Paris outside of Paris), noted that composer Camille Saint-Saëns arrived at the coastal resort of Dieppe (Seine-Maritime) and gave a detailed list of other noteworthy social figures also present in the town : It is tout Paris, that can be seen : Count and Countess Louis de Talleyrand-Périgord, M. Josselin de Rohan, Mme Madeleine Lemaire, M. Marcel Proust et M. Reynaldo Hahn, who are the hosts of the eminent artist.

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