Why Did The English Wear White Wigs

At that time monarchs were fashion leaders so all the nobility copied their king. That is why the modern judges of the English courts and other members of the nobility wear white wigs during formal proceedings.

Wig Wikipedia

And the English settlers brought the wig style to America.

Why did the english wear white wigs. Louis XIII of France began it when he started wearing a wig to hide his receding hairline and Louis XIV carried on doing this. Then the wigs were started to be used for the purpose of fashion. This wig was comprised of greyish white horse hair which was not having curling powdered perfumed and frizzing characteristics.

As the war was mostly fought between those who wear their hair short the Roundheads and those who wear there hair long The Beatles the pervasive use of wig was a way to symbolize the impartiality of judiciary. Though the wig remained in high style for the whole century it underwent many changes and metamorphoses. By the eighteenth century wigs became a basic element in the wardrobe of upper class and middle class in England.

Fashion Influence In 1625 an academic paper called The Discourse on Robes and Apparel forever changed the way British high court officials dressed. WIg was introduced in late 1660 after restoration of the british monarchy after the bloody civil war. Wigs were even made to match certain outfits.

It was a style across Europe that lasted for nearly 200 years. Till the capital punishment was stopped in the year 1969 the lawyers were wearing black caps when they were announcing death sentence. Powdered wigs became an essential for full dress occasions and continued in use until almost the end of the 18th century.

It is the distinctive feature of a member of the peerage. It wasnt just Englishmen. Powdering wigs was messy and inconvenient and the development of the naturally white or off-white powderless wig made of horsehair is no doubt what has made the retention of wigs in everyday court dress a practical.

White wigs were worn on formal occasions but due to cost many men would simply powder a colored wig white because they did not own a white wig. The tradition of wearing a white wig and a robe dates back to the 17th centuryand not much of the uniform has changed since. By that time white hair was a tradition for the nobility.

He donned a wig in 1624 to cover up his prematurely balding hair.

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