Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-04-23

How strange is the origin of Il fashion
The determination of wig" was first
adopted by the duke of Anjuu h conceal
IL personal defect. Charles VII of
France introduced long coats to hide his
ill-made legs. The absurdly long pointed
shoes, often two feet i'll length, were in
troduccd by Henry Plantagcnet 10 cover
II very large eXcresccnce he had on one of
his feet When Francis |. was obliged
to wear his hair short on account OF n
wound in his head, the crop became the
fashion of his court
Louis NJ. of France lal the tcmcrity
to crop his hair and shave his beard at Il
time when fashion dictated ambrosial
locks and flowing beard. What was the
consequence? His queen, Eleanor Of
Aquitaine, disgustcd at such contempt
of appearance, rested moi until she pro
cured II divorce and married the count ot
Aniou. alterward king of England. Ii ii
too much to suppose that the intcrmin-
able wars which followed upon this alll-
ance were brought abou. primarily by
the injudicious conduct Of King Louis?
Who will say, looking on these and like
facts, that fashion is to he condemned, or
that her changes are unworthy the hiSio-
rams note or the philosophers attention?
As for the popular mind, that is, with It's
usual sagacity, kecnly alive 10 anything
relating to SO important a subject as
dress, as IL at once proven by the com
mon remark i'll everybody's mouth, Of
knowing man hy the style of his coat,
or as Capt Cutie would put it, by the
cut of his jib.
FIRST among fashionable follirs on the
q 1 al
which were thought indispensable" about
the middle of Queen EliZahcth's reign.
The coat is what the dandy of our times
most pridos himself ON. From the time
of Henry VIII. of England, an'l for three
succeeding rcigns, his brecchca were the
objects of IL Young mans chief solicitudc
From II picture of James l. of England,
IN hunting costume, IL Will he seen that
1.-THE great, round, ahominahlc hrrrch,
i., it was styled, then tnprfrd down to the
knee. and was slashed all over and cover
ed with embroidery and lace. Stays were
sometimes worn beneath the long WASTED
,loublcts of the gentlemen TO keep them
straight and coniinc them at the waist.
We read of brccchcs almost capable Of
bushcl OF wheat, and OF alterations
which had to be made IN the British par
Lament house to afford additional accom-
udation for the members seats II ~ re
lated of fast young man of the ilme,
that ON rising to conclude Il visit ui cerc-
mony, he Ind the misfortune to damage
his neither intcgumcnts 10y u protrudmg
nail in his chair, 81 TINT by th, time hc
gained the door the escape uf bran WAS
80 rapid us to cause IL state ot complete
collapse We learn that dandy of 1916
wore tall hat with II bunch of rlirhons
on one side and II feather ON the other,
his faco spotted with patches, tw" love
locks one on each side of his head, which
hung down upon his bosom aud are tied
with silk ribbons IN bows muatachr
cncompnssrd his mouth His band ur
collar, edged with lur", was tlrd with
band strings anI secured 10y II ring. \
tight vest WAS left partly open. The
cloak was III those days carried on the
4 arm. His brccches were adorned with
many dozens uf points at the knees, and
above these, On either SIDE, were tw"
great bunchesof ribbon, of several c"inrs.
His legs were cncnsrd in boot hose tops,
tied above the middle Of the cali, ms long
ASA pair of shirt sleeves. and double nj the
ends like IL run band The tops Of nIs
boots we've very lrrr, irlng-d with lace,
and turned down ns low as his spurs Ia
his right hand he carried II stick, which
he played with as he straddlcd along
the street singing With such boots
''straddling" was mn uugrnrrtul nee ,sSitN.
\ portrait of Sir William Russell, one Of
Queen EliZahcth's most distinguished
courtiers. gives some i,lrl Of the style Of
dress among the gentlemen of the latter
part of her reign. In hls immense run.