The Great Masculine Renunciation

Samenvatting

The Great Masculine Renunciation marked a historical shift in men’s fashion from opulence to understatement in Europe and America during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The article examines the social, political, and cultural forces that contributed to this transformation, tracing its roots from religious asceticism to Enlightenment ideals of rationality and individual freedom. It discusses how changes in economic conditions and technology also played a role, making opulent attire less exclusive and undermining its status as a symbol of prestige. The article analyzes the emergence of new sartorial norms that privileged understatement and elegance, turning lack of adornment into a new status symbol while stigmatizing overt luxury as passé. It highlights key figures such as Beau Brummell, whose pursuit of simplicity and perfection in attire exemplified this shift. Through historical anecdotes and scholarly insights, the article elucidates how the Great Masculine Renunciation reflected broader changes in society and became a manifestation of power and privilege in a changing world.