I wanted to share an article I just read on another popular blog site called Two Nerdy History Girls. Every so often, they post something related to late 17th-century culture. Their most recent article, More Fashions for the Gentlemen: 1700 vs. 1800, compares how men dressed and behaved fashionably in two different centuries.
The article, which you can visit at the link above, includes a wonderful engraving comparing men’s fashion trends in 1700 and 1800! In today’s culture, there is a widespread idea that fashion is inherently feminine, and that men generally do not want to follow or practice fashion (although this is completely untrue, as guys follow trends just as much as the ladies). This image illustrates several important fashion differences – the article discusses how their behavior, posture, attention to detail, and accessories change based on what was considered fashionable!
Click on the image to enlarge, and see if you can pick out what’s different! Feel free to share your observations in the comments. Thanks to the Two Nerdy History Girls and their interesting articles!
Hannah Howard, Volunteer Coordinator & Costumier