The Perfect Gentleman Issue 2 - April 2016 | Page 51

The Perfect Lady
Costume History Extremes
The 17th, and 18th, and 19th centuries were
important time periods for menswear. During
King Charles I’s reign in the earlier 17th century,
men’s clothing got quite fancy with large lace
collars, decorative slashed sleeves,
scalloped-edged breeches, and deep and
sometimes lacy boot cuffs (women’s costume
remained rather plain in comparison).

The male ideal of beauty at this time was showy
and rather involved: layered, ribboned,
flounced, and edged clothing with gobs of lace
at the cuffs and around the throat to lilt over
sumptuous fabrics; bows on their shoes, fancy
walking sticks, and large, showy hats trimmed
with ostrich plumes, and perched over long,
curled wigs.

During the short Commonwealth rule that
followed, men’s and women’s costume became
extremely simple and unadorned - mo ɔ)