Thanks to the dowry of my son's wife, We have added an extension to our coffers. My son's wife, Kanaya Maryam -now Kirkland- and my own wife, Clara, went dress shopping. I was forced along, since I needed a new suit from the tailors'. Savile Row had Many tailors,the best for both men and women, so Clara and I headed there. In the carriage ride she told me about the various styles of the day...
"Good Corsets," She began "Are made of steel or whalebone.They help keep up our figure."
Kanaya, though blushing, listened intently.
"I once heard a doctor friend of mine talk about the effects of those corsets," I remembered, "They squeezed the lungs,liver,intestines,bladder, and dislocated the stomach"
Kanaya made a gagging sound.
"Anyway-" Clara glared a little at me "The skirt, in order to be made to look bigger, has a skeleton made out of steel wire. It is more flexible than most other materials used. We put on a first layer, so the springs shan't be seen when we put on a second."
She pointed to Kanaya's bright green dress ,
"That fabric is dyed with Arsenic to produce that color, And I will have you know that Paisley shawls are quite in-fashion. In fact-" Clara turned to me and giggled, "The brighter the dress the better."
She frowned slightly, her grey eyes growing dark, and leaned toward me.
"Her majesty, Queen Victoria, has recently become enamored by the highlands, so plaid might be in style soon"
Her eyes suddenly twinkled brightly, and she tapped me playfully in the chest with her fan. (I would never allow such a thing in public, but no one outside could see in.)
"We need to get you a dinner jacket!"
And we arrived at the tailors, no more to be said...
Social etiquette is very important, so it is understandable why women buy a variety of clothes. I suppose corsets are necessary but is the damage worth the figure? I was surprised to know that the dress fabrics were dyed with arsenic. I am a man and so can not fully comprehend a woman's thoughts on beauty and fashion.
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