The Early Baroque Period 1680-1699

After the insane fashions of the Restoration, the Baroque Period ushered in an elegant style of clothing that was to pervade all classes of society for more than a century.   This style was characterized by lean vertical lines and an air of dignity.   Men's basic garments consisted of a narrow frock coat over a similarly-shaped waistcoat, both buttoning all along their straight front edges.   Breeches, shirt, cravat, stockings, shoes and a hat complete the ensemble.   The complexity of each was dictated by the taste and budget of the wearer.   Women wore a new type of gown called a mantua over their shift, stays and petticotes.   This mantua evolved from the casual wrappers of the previous decades into a gown that was acceptable for street- . and later even court- . wear.   High-piled hairstyles and fontages complete the vertical effect.

© 2004 Kass McGann. All Rights Reserved. The Author of this work retains full copyright for this material. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this document for non-commercial private research or educational purposes provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved on all copies.

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