In the time of Charles II and his successors the dress of the wealthy
and fashionable classes was most elaborate and costly. Gentlemen wore
their hair long, in ringlets, with an abundance of gold lace and
ruffles, and carried long, slender swords, known as rapiers.
Sometimes indeed they outshone the ladies in the splendor of their
costume, and in one instance the bride at a wedding burst into tears
because her gorgeously dressed husband looked so much handsomer than
she did that all eyes were fixed on him alone. Later on, large
flowing wigs came into fashion, and no man of any social standing
thought of appearing without one.
In Queen Anne's reign both ladies and gentlemen powdered their hair.
The ladies also painted their faces and ornamented them with minute
black patches, which served not only for "beauty spots," but showed,
by their arrangement, with which political party they sympathized.