Daniel Demeo writes:

Ron Haller-Williams writes:

References:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Ier_de_Larmessin
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_II_de_Larmessin
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_III_de_Larmessin
http://www.pierotrincia.it/en/3337/Habit-de-Monnoyeur---Nicolas-de-Larmessin-II.html
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/401616

https://www.mediastorehouse.com/fine-art-finder/artists/b-onnart-1650-1750-bonnart-1650-1750/minters-costume-coloured-engraving-12731384.html?prodid=6974

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: MARCH 22, 2020 : Moneyer's Habit(https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n12a16.html)

As the world grapples with the coronavirus outbreak, "social distancing" has become a buzzword of these strange times.

Fashion might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of isolation strategies. But as a historian who writes about the political and cultural meanings ofclothing, I know that fashion can play an important role in the project of social distancing, whether the space created helps solve a health crisis or keep away pesky suitors.

Clothing has long served as a useful way to mitigate close contact and unnecessary exposure.

In the past, maintaining distance - especially between genders, classes and races - was an important aspect of social gatherings and public life. Social distancing didn't haveanything to do with isolation or health; it was about etiquette and class. And fashion was the perfect tool.

Take the Victorian-era "crinoline." This large, voluminous skirt, which became fashionable in the mid-19th century, was used to create a barrier between the gendersin social settings.

While the origins of this trend can be traced to the 15th-century Spanish court, these voluminous skirts became a marker of class in the 18th century. Only those privilegedenough to avoid household chores could wear them; you needed a house with enough space to be able to comfortably move from room to room, along with a servant to help you put iton. The bigger your skirt, the higher your status.

In the 1850s and 1860s, more middle-class women started wearing the crinoline as caged hoop skirts started being mass-produced. Soon, "Crinolinemania" swept thefashion world.

To read the complete article, see:
The fashionable history of social distancing(https://theconversation.com/the-fashionable-history-of-social-distancing-134464)