New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-14
LONDON FASHIONS SIXTY YEARS AGO

From, Time.
Relative to the fashions in costume prevalent
sixty years ago author has much to saw
although he is naturally more communicative about
.he dress OF ms own sex than to the attire of
!aules vi one British matrOn, rcproached with be-
ing .clad in everything from France" he writes
that she was covered with folds of drapery circles
quillings of lace and pufings of all Sorts i'm the
directly opposite extreme to the fiimsy garments
though they were sewn up in tight bags. Generally
the ladies' seem 10 have been much ornanented' and
favored at Royal drawing-rooms, much fnlled
a ana fu at~is but instances found
styie OF aiiected simplicity" One
E described as habiied all in White her RaP at o
the top and falling IN ringets, after the manner
shoulder with gloves wrinkled aud thrust down al al
most TO the wrists bracelets them, and with
white-satin shoes, laced up pillar of colossal APP
peaTance, with such foot for base as might have
supported the statue of Minerva"
Male fashions more infinitely discussed The
dandies OF $50 wore stays, and affected exceeanp
e eheniy Of appearance. The gentlemen were
paints stays, starched handkerchiefs, and poutlg,
pigeon nosons OF the ladies' While certain mascli-
line DANES promenaded the streets in kits instead
OF pcttcoats, or cased their ankles in Turkish
tronsers, their heads representing either kiss Inc
KISS me II You dare by an mpudent exposure of n
hghly-colored cheek and a proud impndent air"
gender, figure in whaiebone thin as a lath with
paie;bue unIneanng hazy eyes; so laced UP and
lldG nc cOuiu not STOOD to pick n II his
handkerchief if he CHANGED drop III with tronsers
SO WIDE and loose that they resembcd pettcoats,
WIN VIII painted lace looking over wall of starch
and and muslin patch at the corner of his mouth a
lower between his lips, his hair crested over his
forehead like the feathers of Friesland hen and
goiu cnaln ana qnlzZlng-gass dangling from n meek
long as q gander's. He lisped, ogied and drawled.
ne snelt IKE civet cat; he was all affectation,
vacant STARE hectic cough discomfort, expense,
III the Guards" was understood to order a new coat
monthly and some novelty in the wayof n waist
OF q
rlety OF over-coats, drivingcOats tunques military
grea-coats, night-cloaks tartans and pelisses The
fashions We're set and temp atons to expense placed
before the "elegants OF town by trade co,nhina
ton or juntO of tailors who frequently made their
customers appear III a very ridiculous light One
day 1t was ruled that every back should be as broad
up 10 INITIATE hodman's; on the morrow men were
10 o9 hat squeezed at the waist like hourgasses or
a adGeo up TO resemble earwigs. OCCASION
breasted or martn-taiied. Skirts now dan.
ged IN the dust, and now vanished
Hne day all was starch the next, all were men in
onckram. Adistnguished exquisite appears padded
are oyer niue a,er and an the the other ioplngs
nhemens III his limbs, and all his subjects are i'm
mediateiy restrained within the same lmits.D Now
the vogue ana now a singe-b breasted bmnting
irock or the curtaiied garment known as n sncnrcr
Inc tailor welded absolute power and made the
man, although there was often danger, "Detwixt
the long skirts of his great-coat, fur embroidery
tasseis. oivet buttons, pigeon-breast, and pale
lace OF the decent young mans being mistaken Tor
very indecent young woman. "We are NOR, re-
garded for our coats than for our characters signs
our Hermit n London " and if a man be not i'm
the last fashion, he must content himself with hold
ates how the late Colonel Nj, dying OF a wound u nd
science, for his conduct and assured
his second that he had not token his antagonist for
gentleman until 1t was too late. merely on ac-
fashion,"