THE HERITAGE OF DRESS
THE HERITAGE
OF DRESS
BEING NOTES ON THE HISTORY
AND EVOLUTION OF CLOTHES
BY
WILFRED MARK WEBB
FELLOW OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON
CURATOR OF ETON COLLEGE MUSEUM
WITH ELEVEN PLATES
AND ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINE FIGURES IN THE TEXT
LONDON
E. GRANT RICHARDS
1907
TO MY WIFE
HILDA E. WEBB
PREFACE
It would be difficult to find a subject of moreuniversal interest than that of dress, and hosts ofbooks have been written which deal with the attirethat has been adopted at different times and byvarious nations or social classes. The ornamental andartistic sides of the question have also received muchconsideration, but the volumes that have appearedserve chiefly as works of reference. The present bookaims at being of more immediate interest and usefulness;it starts with things as they are, and is really apopular contribution to the natural history of man.
On all sides the advantages of observation and theneed for the nature-study method in education arebeing rightly urged, but there is a tendency to narrowthe purview. Anything in our environment is worthyof notice, and though attention is well directed towardsthat which is least artificial, we should notleave man and his works altogether on one side.There is material for observation, research, and deduction,even in a bowler hat and a cut-away coat.
One of the pleasantest features in connection with[viii]the making of this book has been the kind and readyhelp which I have received from all sides. Here andthere throughout the text the names of friends andcorrespondents who have given their assistance havebeen mentioned. To these I offer my hearty thanks,as well as to the following, who with suggestions,information, or with material for illustrations, havecontributed in no small way to the interest of thebook: Messrs. Fownes Brothers & Company, Mr.Allan A. Hooke, Mr. W. S. Ward, Mr. Karl, ofMessrs. Nathan & Company, Messrs. Tress & Company,Messrs. Lincoln & Bennett, Mr. M. D. Hill,the Rev. A. W. Upcott, Head Master of Christ’sHospital, Miss Clark, Miss Hodgson, the Rev. R.Ashington Bullen, Mr. Henry Miller, of the ChurchAssociation, Mr. Ravenscroft, of Messrs. Ede Sons& Ravenscroft, Mr. Paley Baildon, Mr. GeorgeHertslet, of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, Messrs.Wilkinson & Company, Mr. C. M. Mühlberg, Mr.W. S. Parker, of Messrs. Debenhams, Ltd., Capt.H. Trench, Major J. W. Mallet, of the Army andNavy Gazette, Mr. Basil White, of Messrs. Hawkes& Company, Mr. W. H. Jesson, Messrs. Souter& Company, Mr. William Lawrence, Mr. HeatherBigg, Dr. J. Cantlie, and the Rt. Hon. ViscountessHarberton.