With archeology making inroads, along with interest in all things Oriental, turbans were seen as an exotic accessory. If you ever saw Amadeus, you'll remember the part where the singer describes her ensemble as "Turkish" and everybody wearing Turkish this year! Styles didn't change as quickly as they do today. At the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, California they have one of the best collections of 18th century English paintings and many of the ladies are depicted with their big powdered wigs trying to emulate the classical styles of antiquity and the exotic styles of the Orient. Very amusing juxtoposition.