Fashionation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While it makes one tired to think of the clothes

Our ancestors wore, yet still I suppose

There's much to be said for the fashions of yore

For in truth modern clothes are a bit of a bore.

So follow me now to the days long ago

When clothes made the man, and swaggering beaux

Wore jewelled shoe buckles and vests sprigged with gold

And were proud of the turn of their legs, I am told.

While an exposed lady's ankle was ever so daring,

Which is odd considering the breasts she was baring.

What hoops and braces supported her dress,

With stays and corsets and garters no less.

Such billows of tulle, such bevies of bows

With row upon row upon row of rouleaux.

Tiers of smooth satin, cream parchment lace

And beading and flounces all over the place.

Salmon pink ribbons, a sweet cornette cap

For winter, a fur muff and robe for the lap.

Long pheasant feathers, a huge peacock fan

Plumes from an ostrich - no bird was banned.

The mantle, the cape, the cloak, the shawl,

A ruff made of ermine, sables come fall.

Bangles and brooches festooning each gown

Embroidered reticules, parasols worth pounds.

Not to mention the colours - kingfisher blue

And crimson lake red, just to mention a few.

Cashmere and satin, silk, bombazine -

Such finery today is simply not seen.

Oh what would they think of our spandex and cotton?

Is fashion sense gone? Or merely forgotten!

(Posted on the Benson List June 6, 1998,

during discussion of As We Were)