De Gracieuse manifested itself from 1862 to 1936 as an attractive fashion and needlework magazine, aimed at a growing audience of fashion-conscious ladies. The fashion examples were usually inspired by the latest fashions from Paris. The patterns on display were suitable for all hours and occasions of the day. They varied from simple robes to fancy evening gowns, and from undergarments to travel clothing or sportswear. Men’s fashion hardly figured in the magazine at all. Children’s fashion was usually covered in special issues.

De Gracieuse also presented various examples of needlework, like crochet work, knitting and various embroidery techniques. The embroidery examples were intended for the embellishment of clothing and shoes, but also for various objects in and around the home.

Gemeentemuseum Den Haag. The costume department holds a large collection of fashion magazines, fashion prints and fashion drawings. The oldest prints and drawings date back to the sixteenth century, while the oldest fashion magazines in the collection are from the second half of the eighteenth century.