Wigs have been worn by royals and aristocrats throughout history for a variety of reasons. The practice became especially popular during the 16th to 18th centuries in Europe. Wigs were a symbol of status and wealth, allowed wearers to keep up with the latest fashions, and helped conceal signs of aging or illness. Let’s explore the fascinating history behind royal wigs.
To Show Status and Wealth
During the Renaissance and Baroque eras, wigs became a symbol of privilege and status. Only wealthy nobles and royals could afford the expensive, high-quality wigs made from human hair or horse hair. The bigger and more elaborate the wig, the more money it signaled the wearer had. King Louis XIV of France was famous for starting wig trends at the French court and influencing aristocratic fashions across Europe. His wigs were so large they practically qualified as architectural creations!
Wigs became essential attire for appearing at royal courts and events. Nobles and royals strived to outdo each other with novel or ostentatious styles. An intricate, floor-length wig studded with gems and ribbons made it clear you were someone important. The cost and workmanship boasted of your noble lineage and vast wealth.
Keeping Up with Fashion
Wigs also allowed royals and aristocrats to stay on top of the latest fashions and beauty trends. Styles and colors changed rapidly, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries. Bleached white wigs were popular at European courts in the 1600s before being eclipsed by natural gray and auburn wigs in the 1700s. Powdered wigs then came into vogue towards the end of the 18th century.
Having an array of stylish wigs on hand enabled the wealthy to change their look on a whim. Royals could indulge their vanity and love of novelty by always appearing au courant. King George II of Britain was said to have over two dozen wigs so he could vary his appearance daily!
Concealing Hair Loss or Illness
Wigs also conveniently covered up thinning hair or balding. Portraits reveal that many male royals faced premature hair loss. Rather than show their receding or graying locks, they donned voluminous wigs tied back in ponytails or braids to emulate youthful vitality. Wigs also hid signs of illness like hair loss. Communicable diseases were rampant in earlier eras, even striking royal families. A quality wig maintained an image of health when sickness had left someone physically diminished.
King Louis XIV
King Louis XIV provides a striking example of wig use to mitigate poor health. In his 20s, he was renowned for having flowing, wavy brown locks under his crown. But by his late 30s, probable untreated diabetes and high blood pressure caused his hair to fall out. His elaborate curled wigs preserved his regal image as the powerful Sun King. Towards the end of his life at age 76, he wore huge black wigs that showed no hint of his hair loss or advanced age.
Religious Reasons
Wigs also served religious purposes for some royal devotees. Pious Catholic kings and queens emulated the tonsure haircut of clergy members. The style involves shaving the top of the head and leaving a crown of hair. Royal tonsures were achieved by donning wigs sans hair at the top. Examples include Mary Queen of Scots in 16th century Scotland and Marie Leszczyńska, Queen of France in the 1700s.
Facilitating Elaborate Styles
The intricate hairstyles fashionable among the French and English courts were also easier to achieve with wigs. Styles like high mounds of curls or large braided coils were often accompanied by shaving the head underneath. The resulting stubble made it hard for real hair to hold in place. Styling the base wig separately then securing it onallowed for much more sculptural looks. Powder and pomade helped the fake hair hold its shape. The time required for elaborate royal coiffures was another reason wigs became indispensable accessories.
Hygienic Reasons
Basic hygiene was lacking in earlier centuries, even for aristocrats and kings. Bathing regularly was uncommon, and lice infestations were rampant. A removable wig helped keep the scalp and real hair cleaner compared to constant styling and wearing of hats and crowns. Daily wig changes were common among wealthier nobles. Having a short haircut or shaved head underneath also reduced breeding grounds for lice.
Dramatic Effect
Finally, wigs lent drama and theatricality to royal displays. They created an illusion of gods touching the earth. The nobility was considered a race apart – vain, privileged, and entitled. Wigs helped sustain this separation, almost becoming part of their expected costuming. King Louis XIV ingeniously used wigs to both conceal and exaggerate his mortality. Wild, flowing wigs made monarchs seem superhuman and lent otherworldly gravitas.
Wig Requirements and Care
To achieve their desired effects, royal wigs had to meet certain standards of quality and upkeep:
- Wigs were fashioned from human hair or horse hair, with blonde and grey the most prized colors.
- They were handmade and often sewn onto linen caps that tied under the wearer’s chin.
- Styling aids included pomade, powder, and wire frames to hold shapes.
- Wig curlers and small pillows were used to set waves and curls overnight.
- High status wigs required the daily attention of specialized valets to style and powder them.
- Elaborate wig stands were employed for storing wigs in bedrooms.
- Wigs required careful washing and maintenance to keep them looking pristine.
Evolution of Royal Wig Fashions
Over time, distinct wig trends took hold in different countries and eras:
| Period | Popular Wig Styles |
|---|---|
| 16th century | Shorter, round curled styles often with bangs |
| Early 17th century | Longer hair worn braided or in loose curls |
| Mid 17th century | Wavy chin-length bob wigs |
| Late 17th century | Tall stiff curls and looped braids |
| Early 18th century | Long curly or straight styles |
| Mid 18th century | Powdered white wigs with tied back hair |
| Late 18th century | Heavy curled and frizzed wigs |
Men’s royal wigs gradually became smaller and more restrained by the late 1700s as trends shifted. Women’s wigs, however, remained elaborate into the 19th century. Their tall powdered coiffures were essential for completing the fashionable silhouette.
Famous Royals Known for Wigs
Many prominent kings and queens are still remembered for their iconic wigs today:
Queen Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I wore bright red curly wigs that complemented her pale complexion. She required her ladies-in-waiting to style and care for her large wig collection daily.
King Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV dictated wig fashions at the French court during the 1600s, favoring long curly wigs as a young man. His later oversized black wigs disguised his hair loss.
Maria Theresa of Austria
This powerful 18th century Holy Roman Empress ruled for 40 years wearing powdered wigs studded with jewels and feathers.
Marie Antoinette of France
The last Queen of France became famous for her tall, elaborate pouf wigs decorated with ships, gardens, and other ornate trimmings.
Catherine the Great of Russia
Catherine embraced Western European styles, appearing in curling grey wigs in portraits from her 34-year reign in the late 1700s.
George III of Great Britain
This 18th century British king had a large wig collection styled in loose natural curls and often powdered white.
Decline of Royal Wigs
Wigs eventually fell out of fashion as Ideas from the Enlightenment and French Revolution shifted culture and politics. Several factors contributed to wigs becoming passé:
- A new embrace of simpler, “natural” styles in the late 1700s.
- The French Revolution damaged the prestige of the aristocracy.
- Less formal neoclassical clothing arose in the 1790s.
- The Romantic era valued authenticity over artifice.
- New hairstyling techniques made real hair more feasible.
- Wigs came to be associated with conservatism and ancien régime tyranny.
- Some rulers consciously rejected wigs to appear more down-to-earth and modern.
Men generally abandoned wigs by the 1800s while women wore smaller wiglets into the mid 19th century. Wigs emerged again in the 1900s for theatre costumes or historical dress.
Conclusion
Royal wigs remain an enduring symbol of opulence, status, and fashion from the Renaissance to Regency periods. They served a range of purposes for aristocratic men and women who used them to conceal hair loss, stay stylish, impress subjects, or boost their egos. The bigger and more ornamented the wig, the more it conveyed the wearer’s prestige and class. Wigs helped mark nobility as special and almost supernaturally above commoners. Though they faded with changing attitudes and ideals, wigs continue reflecting the extravagance, vanity, and privilege of a bygone royal era.