\paperw19995 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \pard\tx8790\tx19995\ATXts240\ATXbrdr0 \f1 The greatest emphasis of the artistic expression of fashion was placed on the clothes
worn by men, especially those who held public positions. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance the garments worn by men were characterized by bright colors.\par
The typical color of the clothing worn by the nobility was scarlet, a special shade of red
obtained with a dye extracted from an insect. Older men dressed in long robes known as \i sacche\i0 , over which the nobility wore elegant cloaks, sometimes lined with fur.\par
Headgear was widely used, some it in fantastic shapes like the peculiar ha
t called the \i mazzocchio\i0 .\par
When hose were no longer worn, sixteenth-century men preferred soft, loose and short-legged pants, which they wore with short jackets. Often padded and with full sleeves, these jackets gave their wearers an imposing a
nd regal air.\par
\pard\tx19995\ATXts240\ATXbrdr0 In winter men wore capes or cloaks, made out of precious materials and often lined with ermine, vair or sable, depending on the ownerÆs rank. During the seventeenth century, especially in the cou
ntries of Northern Europe, large white ruffs that stuck out from under jackets were in style. Dark colors were typical of city dress, made up of \i cassocks\i0 and knee-length \i breeches\i0 . The emergence of the principles of both hygiene and democra
cy during the Age of Enlightenment, culminating in the French Revolution, led to a substantial change in menswear, with emphasis placed on practicality.
