This determination he solemnly declared to his council in
October, 1666, and on the 14th of the month appeared clad in a
long vest slashed with white silk, reaching the knee, having the
sword girt over it, a loose coat, straight Spanish breeches
ruffled with black ribbons, and buskins instead of shoes and
stockings. Though the habit was pronounced decent and becoming
to his majesty, and was quickly adopted by the courtiers, there
were those amongst his friends who offered him a wager he would
not persist in wearing it long. At this the king stated his
resolution afresh of never changing; but before the month was out
he had made an alteration, for inasmuch as the vest being slashed
with white, was said by a wag to make the wearers look like
magpies, his majesty changed the colour of the silk to black.
This "manly and comely habit" might have become permanently the
fashion, if the King of France, by way of ridiculing the merry
monarch, had not caused his footmen to be clad in like manner.
Therefore, in less than two years, this mode gave place to others
more fantastical. The vest was retained, but the shape and
material were altered; the surcoat of cloth was discarded for
velvet and rich plush, adorned with buckles of precious stones
and chains of gold; the Spanish leather boots were laid aside for
high-heeled shoes with rosettes and silver buckles. Towards the
close of the reign the costume became much plainer. Through all
these varying fashions the periwig, introduced in 1663, held its
own, increasing in length and luxuriance with time.
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