18th century face patches: gender, class, & identity | fashion history 

In the 18th century, face patches were a popular accessory amongst a diverse feminine demographic. For wealthy ladies, they served as a unique form of expression. It was their unconventional use in the political sphere that sparked controversy. Meanwhile, lower-class women who patched faced associations with venereal disease and moral corruption. As such, both wealthy and poor women were criticized for wearing patches, yet the reasoning differed greatly. This dichotomy in perception illustrates the social disparities woven into this narrative of fashion.
0:00 Intro
2:11 History of patches
9:42 Elite women and political fashion
10:49 Jonathan Swift and The Examiner
12:22 Joseph Addison and The Spectator
16:45 The Whig party and fashion
17:00 Grace Dalrymple Elliott
19:41 Social patching and messages
22:24 "The fallen woman"
22:52 William Hogarth's A Harlot's Progress
23:35 William Hogarth's A Rake's Progress
24:10 Dichotomy of criticism
24:41 Conclusion
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Films and TV:
The Duchess (2008)
A Harlot’s Progress (TV movie 2006)
Marie Antoinette (1932)
Horrible Histories (2009)
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