Margit Wallner When the seemingly eternal Middle Ages was finally replaced by the New Age, amazing metamorphoses began to occur with the men's suit. Noble peers and lords no longer needed to spend half their lives in armor, protecting their family castle from the encroachments of greedy neighbors, other joys appeared in life. The feudal lords gladly exchanged practical cotts and surcoats for elegant camisoles, and comfortable boots for high-heeled shoes. And in the fashion business, as you know, one has only to start: by the 18th century, the clothes of male aristocrats had become so pretentious that one can hardly imagine how they dressed in all this and moved around.
The wedding of Louis XIV and Marie-Theresa in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Jacques Laumosnier/e3/jo/e3jolfluy0gsk08gk04kgk044.jpg
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Jabot did not buy – not a man
The riot of colors, the richness of textures and the abundance of complex decor – this is what characterizes the European men's suit of the 18th century. White silk stockings, tight-fitting breeches, lace, bows, embroidered camisoles and even corsets – fashionistas have never looked so beautiful and sophisticated.
In those days, men competed with women in the elegance and beauty of clothing and often won. But why was the fashion so bizarre?
Thanks to the rapid development of navigation, many outlandish goods came to Europe – expensive fabrics, jewelry, accessories. Representatives of the nobility competed with each other in wealth, decorating their clothes with lace, furs, and precious stones. Each sought to surpass competitors and shine at court. During the reign of Louis XIV, the layered clothing of the courtiers was so uncomfortable that there was no chance of putting it on on your own. Monsieurs, pomaded and powdered in frills, with gold buckles and embroidered camisoles, filled the halls and living rooms of the Louvre. From France, impressed aristocrats in other countries actively took an example.
I didn’t wear tights – I’m not a man
Some fashion trends have a completely trivial explanation – huge wide-brimmed hats protected from slop that could spill on the chevalier's head while he hurried to the palace through the city streets. And the long feathers on the headdress are purely for beauty. Shoes with heels saved the feet from mud when they had to walk on the pavement filled with rain and sewage. Stockings and chausses, by the way, were a purely masculine accessory until the end of the 18th century. Europeans adopted this fashion from the Arabs in the 13th century. Before that, they wrapped their legs with leather cloth to the thigh, and put on some kind of short trousers over them.
Shoe tights with a codpiece sewn to them were considered very masculine and admired by women. .ru/sized/f550x700/5s/3l/5s3l83cnayskck4skcs80go0c.jpg” media=”(max-width: 549px)”> Opening of the States General O. Kuder/5s/3l/5s3l83cnayskck4skcs80go0c.jpg
Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news » Back to news Long and thick hair was then considered a sign of a man's health, emphasizing his status. And the monarch began to go bald early, so I had to use other people's curls. The trend quickly spread throughout Europe. And wigs also became a solution to problems with lice: they could be changed often so that the insects did not annoy much, and you could simply shave off your hair. By the way, artificial curls were powdered for the same reason – the odorous powder repelled parasites. The scarlet broom of the Great French Revolution swept into oblivion excesses in clothing. It was since then that men's fashion began to rapidly and inexorably simplify, losing collars made of the finest lace, flirtatious golden tassels on the calves and elegant tight-fitting stockings that women gladly took for themselves. 
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