REVELATIONS OF A FASHIONABLE TAILOR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1294, 24 January 1885, Page 1

REVELATIONS OF A FASHIONABLE TAILOR.

In the course of a lengthy chat with a well-known fashionable tailor of Melbourne, some interesting particulars were gleaned as to the frivolities of fashion as peculiar to the men. Much has been said ag inst the absurdities of female dress, but far more astounding aie (he vagaries of male attire. “ Of course, you are aware,” said our friend, “ it is no secret that corsets are much worn by men. They always have been as far back as I can remember, though of late years, with (ho advent of aesthetics and dudism in general, the fashion has been on the increase. The ultra dudes nearly all wear stays, but there are others too who are by no means dudes, or especially effeminate either. Tnere,” he continued, drawing us to the window, which afforded a splendid view of the whole street, “go two swell gamblers arm-in-arm. Yes, of course, you know them by name and reputation everyone does ; but what you don’t know is that the slenderer and better dressed one on the "outside wears corsets, and has done so for years. I ought to knoa, for I order bis stays for him. Masculine corsets are made to order by two large manufacturers here in the city. I assure you there are few daughters or dames of wealth and fashion with more expensive silk-woven, fine-bone t, gold-corded stays under their silks and sealskins than that man yonder carries under his upper-linen. There, with that richly-dressed lady, is oue of the most prominent sporting men about town, who has won a corset for years. You can’t deny that it helps him to show off his shoulder pads to advantage. You know the handsome actor swinging bis cane in solitary grandeur ou the opposite pavement? Well, if you don’t likewise know that ho helps his general make-up, off stage and on, by means of a corset, I don’t know why I should tell you. There are tliree welldressed men together, all customers of mine. Which would you give the palm to in point of shape ?” “The one in the middle!” “I knew yen would say that, for it’s the solid truth ; and ha is the only one of the trio that wears corsets. Now cast your eye on the brace of dudes behind him, and note the dififcience. They also have corsets, but you could detect it a mile off, for it simply gives ’em anondescript, idiotic air, while in the- case of the bucks already pointed out the practice really serves to set up their shapes.” “But this is astonishing!” was exclaimed. “ It shouldn’t be anything of the sort,” said the tailor complacently, “ Fashionable men have as good a right to improve their shapes artificially as women have; and if false calves, padded shoulders, bran biceps, and counterfeit chest-fronts are allowable in the mascu ine make-ups, why not corsets just as well ? Understand, however, that I don’t say I would wear corsets myself. But 1 must tell ymi a little story about a prominent society man whoso make-up, so admirably bad he contrived it, I only found out the other day by the oddest of accidents. Understand that I am not Ids tailor, or I wouldn’t have been surprised at all at what happened. But there was a business transaction between us, and he told me to call any day at his club apartments to talk the matter over, wi heut appointing any particular hour. Well, 1 chanced to drop in on him early in the morning, and, as his sitting-room door was ajar, ventured to enter unannounced. Though I had often been there before, I thought at first 1 must have got into the wrong room, for while my friend is to all the world a big, grand, superbly preserved man of middle-age, the only occupant of the mom was a bald-headed, toothless, shrivel-sbranked sort of galvanised anatomy, shivering over a feeble fire in a dressing-gesvn and old slippers. I coughed, aud the old wrick suddenly started up with a sort of frightened screech, and darted into an adjoining room, si miming the door after him. I hadn’t recognised him. Presently the door opened, and there stood m? big, grand, well-preserved middle-aged friend, as large and self-possessed as umi-i 1 , but just a litde out of sor s ai the discovery I had made.” “ But what was (he discovery, and what, had beeo'im "f theshiivePed-up old man ?” “ Why he had simply vanished into the personality of my friend as ma'c.-no, hi t whom 1 Lad Mirj nsed- en dishabil'e don’t you see 1 That- was the joke.”