The Fleece of Their Flock: Homespun & the American Identity

All Style, No
Substance
Chronologically, the macaroni
man fell in between
the Restoration-era fop
and the nineteenth-century
dandy. The term “macaroni”
describes both the
man of fashion and the
dazzling attire he wore.
Macaroni dress was characterized
by excessive
ornamentation and unbelievable
proportions.
With a tall powdered wig
topped by a tiny cap, he
sported a slim-fitted suit
adored with ruffles, gold,
and other trimmings,
trappings and trifles.
Silk stockings and jewel-bucked,
high-heeled
shoes drew attention to
his shapely calves. The
macaroni man was “all
style, no substance” – a
categorization the colonial
patriots had to avoid
for their political pressures
to be taken seriously. 7
culture may have been problematic
for the colonial leaders, who
dreaded a monarchical future
drenched in lavish pomp and circumstance.
British luxuries were
thought to lead to overconsumption
and “arbitrary power.” This
polarizing effect created corruption
at the top and oppression
below, sparking resentment and
revenge. 8
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