This quote insightfully captures the paradoxical nature of fashion and societal acceptance. Bill Bryson highlights the curious historical example of men wearing wigs for over a century and a half, focusing on Samuel Pepys's initial reluctance yet ultimate embrace of this practice. The amusing tension Pepys felt—fearing ridicule for adopting a novel fashion and simultaneously worrying about the origins of wig hair—reflects deeper truths about human behavior and social conformity. It reveals how powerful the desire to fit in and follow trends can be, to the point where rational concerns, including health risks, become secondary. The example of wigs, some possibly made from the hair of plague victims, underscores our complex relationship with fashion: while it may appear irrational or even dangerous, fashion secures social status, identity, and belonging. This passage also subtly shows that what begins as a novel or strange trend can quickly become normalized, a testament to the social dynamics underlying personal style and public impression. Fashion's grip isn't purely aesthetic but psychological and cultural—it shapes actions and anxieties, often in contradictory ways. The anecdote also reminds us that even in modern times, we might continue practices that are not fully understood or are somewhat illogical simply because of their social cachet. Overall, the quote cleverly lays bare fashion's enigmatic power and the deeply human tendency to embrace it sometimes against our better judgment.