AKA Full-Bottomed Wigs, You Make the Rocking World Go ‘Round! Who doesn’t love some hot boys in wigs? (Okay, weird people) And yes, most men’s wig styles are great. But for me, there’s something about alllll that hair in a full-bottomed wig — the style worn in the late 17th century and early 18th century. Maybe it’s a holdover from my hair metal days as a teen (true story). But those long long curls? With the pointy, curly bits on top? YASSSSS PLEASE!!
FYI: why were these wigs called “full-bottomed” in England? I don’t know! I assume it’s to do with the length and substance of them. I can tell you they were also called “in-folio” in England, and in France they were perruques (wigs) “à large fond,” “à long suite,” or “Binette“; if you want to know more, you can check out the book I wrote on 18th century wigs and hairstyles.
In the meantime, I present to you:
Normally Gerard Depardieu annoys me (see forthcoming rant this Snark Week), but slap some makeup on him and put him in a pretty wig in Tous les matins du monde (1991) and he actually kind of works for me!
I mean, look at those pretty curls on top! And the bow!
Robert Downey Jr. can make me swoon in just about anything, but when he gets all fancy and upper crust in Restoration (1995)?
Yeah. I’d run my fingers through those curls!
Restoration (1995) has the added bonus of Sam Neil looking particularly dashing as King Charles II!
OH RUFUS. SMOLDER AT ME. GO AHEAD. I DARE YOU. Rufus with looooong, loooooong curls as King Charles II in The Last King (2003), plus Rupert Graves in a slightly-too-feathered-for-my-tastes wig.
I MEAN, COME ON!!
Hugh Bonneville can be surprisingly dapper in Downton Abbey, but check out what a whole bunch of curls does for him in Wren: The Man Who Built Britain (2004)!
Every time I see an image from The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982), I literally gasp at all the poncy fabulosity.
I have my suspicions that the film may be arty and boring, but WHAT IS NOT PERFECT ABOUT THIS??!!
I’m not too sure about Johnny Depp anymore, and The Libertine (2004) was a really fucking depressing movie, but YUMASAURUS REX!
I know it’s a wig. I don’t care. I want to tie him up with those curls and do naughty, naughty things!
King Charles II is rarely seen on screen without his trademark wigs. Jeremy Northam played a particularly menacing version in New Worlds (2014), but I just want to tug those beautiful sausage curls!
Unlike Trystan, I found Vatel (2000) boring; and Julian Sands‘ blondness doesn’t excite me — but they put him in a big, curly, dark wig and I’m down!
Rupert Everett. Stage Beauty (2004). Charles II. LOOOOONG WIG. YES! YES! YES!
Nell Gwyn is always a hottie, but when she cross-dresses in Stage Beauty? Yeah. ROWR!
I’d really like to see The King’s Whore (1990) despite it starring Timothy Dalton, because the hair and headdresses look to have a lot of potential. I mean, check out hottie-in-the-middle!
Tilda looks great in Orlando (1992), but I’m particularly partial to her 17th century men’s ensembles.
I love that she’s in both dark and blonde wigs…
And this shot of the wig interior! That is wig porn right there, baby.
A Little Chaos (2014) had some issues with the women’s hair, but the fact that they put Louis XIV (Alan Rickman) and his court into full-buttomed wigs really helps make up for it.
And Stanley Tucci fopping it up as the Duc d’Orléans! Yes! Yes!
And now I have this classic Spinal Tap song in my head:
Now let’s just hope that Versailles gets on the full-bottomed wig bandwagon, because, COME ON!!!
Did I miss any important films featuring boys in full-bottomed wigs?
My favourite is Tim Roth in his wig in Rob Roy. MEOW!!!!
Oh, yes! I don’t usually find T,R, that attractive, but give him a wig and a sword and he blooms.
I wish my hair could do this. But, seriously I can understand the appeal of these ‘I’d shag these men in a heartbeat’ hotness in the wigs. But to tell the truth I’d shag Rupert without the *sigh* hair candy.
PMSL! All those Chaz 2’s- wondrous. OMG, and Tilda. [Pause for some alone time]. Thanks for the fun, the excellent screencaps, and all the sauce. Draughtsman’s Contract is indeed arty and boring, but still compelling. Soooooo beautiful. Restoration was a fab book, but Downey and what’s her face? Tooooo pretty, spoiled it. Merivel is supposed to be fat and ginger!
Keep ’em coming, you make my day when another post comes out.
YAY for wig porn and all the pretty men, especially Johnny Depp. Libertine is a true story about a terrible man, I wept for all the little POTC fangirl teenyboppers in line with me at that show. But, as always, you’ve given me new movies to scout out and costumes to dream of making!!!
Who’s that in the first photo — is it Rupert Graves? And what movie is it?
Yes, it’s Rupert Graves — behind the scenes on The Last King!
So, at least he gets some exoneration for the too-feathery one? ;o)
We’ll let it slide ;)
Oh boy, I think your reason for liking thelse wigs is the exact reason I find them very unattractive.
YMMV! :)
If this were their real hair I could go for it, but as it is I just think how you couldn’t enjoy touching it. Can’t run your fingers through it, can’t tug on it… Just a big false advertisement.
Oh, what a FABULOUS MCM post! I think you could really be onto something here with theme-oriented ones in addition to the regular kind. How is it that these wigs make men look so, so HAWT!? I simultaneously get it and I don’t – not that it really matters ’cause Teh Hotness!
If you like the 17th century, you should definitely watch the Draughtsman’s Contract, it’s not boring at all, but very different and witty.