Dedication
TO
ALL WHO ADMIRE
PERFECT DRESS AND CORRECT SOCIAL HABITS
This Book is Dedicated
IN THE HOPE THAT
THE PRINCIPLES IT TEACHES MAY PROMOTE
STRICT OBSERVANCE OF THE
USAGES OF SOCIETY.
Part I — Dress for Gentlemen
Introduction
Dress is the embodiment of taste and refinement. A man looks, and is, distinguished, when he shows simple elegance in his dress. It is not necessary to have wealth in order to dress well. With judgment and economy, one can be something of a dresser. This book is but a guide for men who desire to dress, and are perplexed by the multitude of things there are to wear, and the ever-changing styles.
When a thing becomes vulgarly popular, then, if you wish to be in dress, as well as manners, a gentleman, cast it aside, and seek something newer and less common.
Dressing may be carried to any extent, but it is not good taste to do so.
A gentleman is conspicuous for one thing only—his good taste. Above all dress are manners and grace. Without these, one can never be a gentleman.
In the other part of this work, manners and customs may be studied.
A gentleman is a man of taste, culture, and refinement.
No man is a gentleman who merely does the acts of a gentleman. He must show good breeding—in dress, manners, and conversation.
His dress is the perfection of raiment. His manner is grace and ease personified. His conversation, knowledge itself.
Proud, indeed, may the man be who can write after his name—gentleman.
Let “Simplex Munditiis” be your motto for dress.
Each person must remember one thing: that, to be distingué in dress, he must dress, as regards material, richly; and, as to pattern of cloth, plainly. In other words, simple elegance shows the gentleman.
Everything you wear must be immaculate.
There are three dress divisions of the day:
Morning wear.
Afternoon dress.
Evening dress.
The first may be worn any time of the day before 6 P. M., though it belongs to the morning.
The second is not worn before 2 P. M.
The third is not worn before 6 P. M.
The attire for all athletic games, sports, amusements, for the clergy, and gentlemen in the army and navy, it is not within the province of this work to treat of. In fact, we treat of only that which is worn by a gentleman at home or abroad, in summer or winter, when mingling in society.