you can see what I'm referring to in http://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/02/19/portraits-from-philip-mernicks-collection/, although it also shows up in certain military outfits to this day - like the chinstraps on the guards in front of buckingham palace. How did a chin strap that falls just under your mouth become a thing? I don't get what the utility would be of this convention, and looks-wise it just seems kind of silly. I'm asking you guys on this subreddit because I think this would be the best pool of people who might know. My apologies if this is somehow inappropriate!