Charlotte Curtis, age 14, of Pittsfield, Mass., for her question:
WHY DID COLONIAL MEN WEAR WIGS?
Clothing worn during colonial times varied according to a, person's occupation and his position in the community. Wigs were part of the fashionable colonist's way of life.
A fashionable gentleman wore a wig that he sometimes powder white. He wore the wig because it was tradition and part of the period's way of life.
Outside, a colonial gentleman put a cocked hat on top of his wig. A cocked hat is one with the brim turned up.
During the 1600s, wigs were large and expensive. A man who wore one was often called a "bigwig." After 1750, many more colonial men wore wigs than had worn them earlier. The most popular wig was small and resembled the wearer's natural hair. It was called a "tie" wig because a man pulled the hair back and tied it with a short ribbon.
The name "wig" comes from the word "periwig," and the custom of wearing them dates back to ancient times. Egyptian mummies have been found with them. The ancient Greeks and Romans also wore them.
In the 1700s, the French made wigs very fashionable. They were worn by both men and women. The wigs found their way to the heads of nobles and great ladies, courtiers, ministers, judges, doctors and professional men.
English judges started wearing wigs in the days of Queen Anne and they still wear them in courtrooms today.
In colonial America, wigs were popular only for a rather short period of time. They went out of style as men gave up close fitting breeches and brocade, silk or velvet which were fastened at the knees with silver buckles, along with linen shirts that had lace ruffles at the neck and wrists.
Wigs came back into fashion in America during the 1960s and 1970s. Many women wear them now permanently or on special occasions, and some bald men can also be found wearing wigs.
Today wigmakers also make toupees, worn by both men and women, which are small hairpieces used to cover bald spots.
Many of the fine wigs today are made of the best grade of human hair and are very expensive. Good wigs made with synthetic strands of hair are also available.