Why Would a Judge Or Barrister Wear a White Wig?

Why Would a Judge Or Barrister Wear a White Wig?

If you watch a courtroom drama in the UK or some commonwealth countries, you may see a judge or barrister wearing a white wig.white wig You might wonder why this is. The answer is that in the past, wigs were worn by many people as a sign of wealth and status. Wigs became a fashion trend in the 1600s, at the time when syphilis was spreading throughout Europe. Early symptoms of the disease included skin sores, hair loss and bald patches. Wigs were designed to hide these signs of ill health and were often powdered to resemble the wearer's own natural hair.

These wigs were called perukes.white wig They could be quite large, covering the entire head, and were characterized by side curls or a queue (a short pigtail tied near the scalp). Generally, they were expensive, and the cost of maintenance (washing and drying) was high. A peruke might cost the equivalent of a week's wages. The word bigwig was derived from this time period, referring to someone important who wore a wig.

When the Revolutionary War began, wigs fell out of fashion.white wig Military officers continued to wear them, however, as part of their uniforms. They favored the small, pigtail-like queue (known as a Ramillies wig after the battle of 1706 in which British soldiers were defeated).

Some people also preferred to wear long white wigs with a curly appearance. This style of wig is commonly seen in portraits painted by Gilbert Stuart, who depicted five of the original Founding Fathers with pure white hair.

A white wig might be made from human or animal hair, or even synthetic fiber. The finest quality wigs, whether made from human or animal hair, have never been dyed or bleached, and are carefully sorted to ensure that the individual strands face in the same direction, root to tip, as opposed to riding backwards against their neighbors and causing matting and tangling. The hairs are then treated with a base solution that partially dissolves the cuticle and leaves them smooth. Less costly wigs might skip this process.

The wig is then tied on to the head with a ribbon. Its front portion is secured by a piece of lace in the center. At the back, a rectangular panel of cream synthetic fabric is sewn to the wig and secured at the interior front quarter with flat loops of ribbon that form a straight row along the nape.

During the 18th century, the wig gradually lost popularity to shorter styles of hair. The wig became less full, and the curls were less well-defined. By 1800, a fashion for powdering one's own hair had gained popularity and the wig was largely abandoned as a mark of luxury. Nonetheless, the wig was still a symbol of wealth and status and was frequently seen on the heads of people in political office.

Tags:long green wig | extra long brown wig | half black half white wig | short white wig