Georgian Era Enthusiast

An account dedicated to the appreciation of the Georgian Era.

[cheshire-cat-lenalee2]

[georgianeraenthusiast]

Happy National Georgian Era Day! I have not seen anyone label this day this way, but it is the birthday of King George III. I chose the birthday of the third King George since he currently appears to be the most well known, although not for positive reasons.

[georgianeraenthusiast]

One cannot discuss the Georgian Era without mentioning powdered wigs. Powdered wigs, sometimes called perukes, were worn by men and women during the Georgian Era. The sizes and styles varied, depending on a variety of factors (social status, location, year).

Nowadays, the majority of people that know of powdered wigs are not fond of them in the slightest. They’ve been called ugly, weird, and plenty of other rude terms. Wigs are typically worn by women now, and they are very different in appearance to the peruke. Bright and unnatural colored wigs are the most popular now, contrary to the shades of white and natural colors that were worn in the 18th century.

My hypothesis as to why we now view powdered wigs so negatively is that they were often worn by men, they were curled in a unique way, and they usually work with a ribbon in a ponytail. The most common hairstyle you’ll see on a man now is short, there are many ways that short hair can look and be styled, but long hair on men is not as common as it once was. We are no longer used to seeing men in somewhat “feminine” attire, and when we do (as a society) we judge them for it.

It is my hope that powdered wigs will eventually be viewed in a more positive light, and hopefully even be seen as fashionable once again.

[georgianeraenthusiast]

One of the more iconic, for lack of a better word, features of Georgian men were their calves. Breeches were worn, along with silk stockings, by men during this era. If you look at just about any full-portrait painting of a Georgian man, you will see that calves played a large role in their overall appearance.

A great example of this can be found in a painting by Howard Chandler Christy. The painting portrays a meeting of the constitutional convention. This particular photo of the painting is cropped, but it is the highest quality image that I could find. As you can see, the calves are emphasized with lighting. They also stand out because of the contrast between the darker colors of the top of their outfits.

[georgianeraenthusiast]

If you are a fan of the Georgian Era, or are interested in it, then this account may be the place for you. I will be posting photos that are based around the Georgian Era, providing my input where I see fit.