Take a look at the average men’s department today. Straight lines. Straight cuts. Straight everything. Clean, controlled, and built for the boardroom. Rewind a few centuries, and men strutted in silk heels, lace cuffs, powdered hair, and colors bright enough for a garden party. Power once meant embroidery, perfume, and sparkle. Later, it meant restraint and dark wool. Masculinity has rewritten its own dress code more times than we like to admit. Curious how the closet reflects history, authority, and identity? Let’s dive in.
#1: Louis XIV’s Court Attire (1643)
When Louis XIV took full control of France in 1661, he turned Versailles into a stage. Men at court wore silk justaucorps coats covered in embroidery, lace cuffs, and red-heeled shoes inspired by the king himself. He favored towering wigs to signal rank. Nobles followed his lead because access to the monarch meant influence. Clothing worked as currency. In that world, authority meant height, shine, and visible luxury.
