A Stitch in Time - Episode 1
21The painting Charles II Presented with a Pineapple provides clues to the fine line the king had to tread regarding his public image. How could Charles demonstrate that he was the rightful head of the newly restored monarchy, while at the same time avoiding the shows of out-of-touch extravagance that had contributed to his father's unpopularity and eventual execution? Historian Amber Butchart goes in search of the complex character of Charles II who is credited with creating our modern day three-piece-suit. Her quest takes her from an English stately home to the Palace of Versailles (where the English king's cousin, Louis XIV, openly mocked his attire). In the National Archives, Amber discovers details of the tailor Charles tried to keep secret, while Ninya Mikhaila and her team set about recreating a suit fit for a king.