Not long after, it became the go to look for middle to upper class men, going as far as having different styles of perukes (wigs) for different professions. This history behind the surge of wig wearing in the early modern era goes back to the 17th century when French King Louis VIII found that he was balding at the tender age of 23 and wanted to do something to keep up appearances. For men, they often drifted towards wearing a wig, while women used their natural hair for their up-dos before marriage and wigs after.Ĭharles-Alexandre de Calonne by Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun, 1784 The culture surrounding the coifs went beyond just wanting to look fashionable. However, the one thing that many modern demodés recognize when thinking about the 18th century upper class is the hair. His face would be lightly covered in a layer of makeup one must cover up the pox scars whenever possible to make him look desirable, amongst his other impressive talents like having a deep money purse. When picturing a typical upper-class man during the era of the American Revolution, we envision a well-dressed fop, most likely wearing a silk ensemble with a perfectly turned leg to show off his muscular calf. Portrait of a Man by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau, 1766 Thanks to The Bronx Historical Society and Historic House Trust for their contributions to this post as well. She also advised me while working on my post about Edgar Allen Poe. And she loves Doctor Who, so that’s all the credentials I need. She’s a history consultant, historian, and lecturer.
I wanted to look at hairstyle from this period because it is something we always see but never really talk about. I think it’s important to look back at history to see how much has changed (or stayed the same.) We can learn about past mistakes or take advantage of past innovations. It’s time… for time traveling! We are stopping by the 18th century to learn more about menswear past, specifically, men’s hair styles.
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