Course:History 344 Nasty Families/Pastimes/General Fashion
Fashion in the 17th Century
A style for lavish clothing was started by Louis XIV in France and later carried on by Charles II.[1] During the Stuart period, the styles reflected the division between the cavaliers and the puritans.[2]
Women in this period wore farthingales or whalebone beneath their clothes, which had been presented in the Elizabethan era.[3] Their dresses and skirts were made of satin and silk, and bodices were tied tightly to emphasize the waistline.[4] Women of the 17th century adorned themselves with lace gloves, tuft feathers, and half faced masks.[5] Fashion has always been about pushing boundaries and showing your extravagant side, and the 17th century is a great example of that.
Men in this period did not shy away from the extravagant clothing. During the Stuart period, men wore frilled collars, high stockings, and knee-high boots.[6] Often men would tie ribbons to their trousers in order to give their outfit that extra something special.[7] Men knew how to accessorize as well. They wore periwigs, grew beards, and wore loose ties called cravats.[8]
Both men and women puritans did not approve of this lavish way of dressing. They dressed simply and practically with no fancy attributes.[9] Through this we can see that there wasn’t just a political divide between puritans and the cavaliers, but a cultural one as well.
BN: Needs a better source.