Fashion Quote by Bill Bryson
““Perhaps the most irrational fashion act of all was the male habit for 150 years of wearing wigs. Samuel Pepys, as with so many things, was in the vanguard, noting with some apprehension the purchase of a wig in 1663 when wigs were not yet common. It was such a novelty that he feared people would laugh at him in church; he was greatly relieved, and a little proud, to find that they did not. He also worried, not unreasonably, that the hair of wigs might come from plague victims. Perhaps nothing says more about the power of fashion than that Pepys continued wearing wigs even while wondering if they might kill him.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Pursuit of Happiness by Bill Bryson, 2001
Fashion trends can persist despite irrational origins, driven by social pressure and personal identity.
In simple terms: People follow fashion even when it seems absurd.
Key Takeaway
Question why you adopt trends.
Themes
fashion
social pressure
identity
Mood
reflective
curious
Type
historical
observational
When to use this quote
- workplace attire
- social events
- personal style choices
Key Concepts
conformity
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you wear something for image or comfort?
- How does peer perception influence your choices?
A Different Perspective
Fashion can mask health concerns or personal discomfort.
![“When the Duke [W.J.C. Scott-Bentinck] died, his heirs found all of the aboveground rooms devoid of furnishings except for one chamber in the middle of which sat the Duke's commode. The main hall was mysteriously floor less. Most of the rooms were painted pink. The one upstairs room in which the…” quote by Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3bc/bill-bryson-340_boxes_when-the-duke-w-j-c-scott-bentinck-died_2412928.jpg)
