Wilton, Mary Margaret Stanley Egerton: The Book of costume or, Annals of fashion: from the earliest period to the present time (London: Henry Colburn, Publisher, 1847)

THE TOILETTE IN FRANCE.

229

Another head-dress of this period seems very
strange at the present day, though when worn it was
much admired. The front hair was turned back over


two cushions, the back roll beino- the
highest, and ornamented with knots
and bows of riband. A long veil,
which was generally the most admired
part of a French elegante’s coiffure at
the time of which we are writing,
hung in graceful folds down the back.

It appears, however, to have been worn for ornament
only, as it is never seen drawn over the face; and,
indeed, the height of the head-dress would have ren-
dered it inconvenient.

Under this king great
changes took place in the
manner of wearing hair.
Beards disappeared ; “ la
barbe pointue,” so much
admired by all fashion-
ables in the three pre-
ceding reigns, was banish-
ed, an da small tuft of hair,
termed an “ imperial,”
was all that “la Mode”
permitted to grace the
chins of her followers.
Moustaches, however,
grew longer, and were
shaped at the ends into
a most insinuating twist.
The head was now


adorned with long curls, which soon gave place to
enormous perukes.