Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘George Bryan Brummel’

James Purefoy as Beau Brummel

Of course it became a fashion to exaggerate the Beau’s fastidiousness concerning his toilet. He is said to have employed at least two glovers to make his gloves — the first being entrusted exclusively with the making of the thumbs, the second with the fingers and the rest of the hand; to have made his blacking with champagne, to have had the ties of his cravats designed for him by an eminent portrait painter; to have engaged three hairdressers arrange his hair, one being entrusted with temples, one with the front, and the third his occiput [back of the head].

Quote from: Once a Week, by Eneas Sweetland Dallas, 1864,   p 242-243

Read Full Post »

Brummel’s morning dress was similar to that of every other gentleman. Hessians and pantaloons, or top boots and buckskins, with a blue coat and a light or buff coloured waistcoat, of course, fitting to admiration on the best figure in England. His dress of an evening was a blue coat and white waistcoat, black pantaloons, which buttoned tight to the ankle, striped stockings and opera hat; in fact, he was always carefully dressed, but never the slave of fashion.

Brummel’s tailors were Schweitzer and Davidson in Cork Street, Weston, and a German of the name of Meyer who lived in Conduit Street. The trousers, which opened at the bottom of the leg, and were closed by buttons and loops, were invented either by Meyer or Brummel. The Beau, at any rate, was the first who wore them, and they immediately became quite the fashion ,and continued so for some years. – English Eccentrics: Beau Brummell, John Timbs, p 22-35,

Mr. Brummel in his morning dress

A good humoured baronet, and brother Etonian of [Brummel’s], who followed him at a humble distance in his dress, told me that he went to Schweitzer’s one morning to get properly rigged out, and that while his talented purveyor of habiliments was measuring him, he asked him what cloth he recommended? “Why, Sir,” said the artiste, “the Prince wears superfine, and Mr. Brummell the Bath coating; but it is immaterial which you choose, Sir John, you must be right; suppose, Sir, we say Bath coating, — I think Mr. Brummell has a trifle the preference.” – The Life of George Brummel, Esq, William Jesse

More on the topic: Between a Gentleman and His Tailor, Georgian Index

Read Full Post »

%d bloggers like this: