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Apparel: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations
My copper-lamps, at any rate, For being true antique, I bought; Yet wisely melted down my plate, On modern models to be wrought; And trifles I alike pursue, Because they're old, because they're new.— PRIOR — Alma. Canto III.
Nor rough, nor barren, are the winding ways Of hoar Antiquity, but strewn with flowers.— THOMAS WARTON — Written in a blank
Leaf of Dugdale's Monasticon.
clothes are all the soul thou hast. Thy Thy— BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER — Honest Man's Fortune. Act V. Sc. 3. L. 170.
A painted vest Prince Voltiger had on, Which from a naked Pict his grandsire won. Ascribed to Blackmore. To treat a poor wretch with a bottle of Burgundy, and fill his snuff-box, is like giving a pair of laced ruffles to a man that has never a shirt on his back.— TOM BROWN — Laconics.
Gars auld claes look amaist as weel's the new.— BURNS — The Cotter's Saturday Night.
His locked, lettered, braw brass collar, Shewed him the gentleman and scholar.— BURNS — The Twa Dogs.
And said to myself, as I lit my cigar, "Supposing a man had the wealth of the Czar Of the Russias to boot, for the rest of his days, On the whole do you think he would have much to spare If he married a woman with nothing to wear?"— WM. ALLEN BUTLER — Nothing to Wear.
But I do mean to say, I have heard her declare, When at the same moment she had on a dress Which cost five hundred dollars, and not a cent less, And jewelry worth ten times more, I should guess, That she had not a thing in the wide world to wear!— WM. ALLEN BUTLER — Nothing to Wear.
Dresses for breakfasts, and dinners, and balls; Dresses to sit in, and stand in, and walk in; Dresses to dance in, and flirt in, and talk in, Dresses in which to do nothing at all; Dresses for Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall; All of them different in color and shape, Silk, muslin, and lace, velvet, satin, and crape, Brocade and broadcloth, and other material, Quite as expensive and much more ethereal. S.— WM. ALLEN BUTLER — Nothing to Wear.
Miss Flora McFlimsey of Madison Square, Has made three separate journeys to Paris, And her father assures me each time she was there That she and her friend Mrs. Harris * * * * * * Spent six consecutive weeks, without stopping In one continuous round of shopping, - * * * * * * And yet, though scarce three months have passed since the day This merchandise went on twelve carts, up Broadway, This same Miss McFlimsey of Madison Square The last time we met was in utter despair Because she had nothing whatever to wear.— WM. ALLEN BUTLER — Nothing to Wear.
Around his form his loose long robe was thrown, And wrapt a breast bestowed on heaven alone.— BYRON — Corsair. Canto II. St. 3.
Dress drains our cellar dry, And keeps our larder lean; puts out our fires. And introduces hunger, frost, and woe, Where peace and hospitality might reign. C.— COWPER — The Task. Bk. II. L. 614.
He that is proud of the russling of his silks, like a madman, laughs at the ratling of his fetters. For indeed, Clothes ought to be our remembrancers of our lost innocency.— FULLER — The Holy and Profane States.
Apparel. A night-cap deck'd his brows instead of bay, A cap by night, -a stocking all the day.— GOLDSMITH — Description of an Author's
Bed-chamber. It's like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt.— GOLDSMITH — The Haunch of Venison.
Old Grimes is dead, that good old man, We ne'er shall see him more; He used to wear a long black coat All button'd down before.— ALBERT G. GREENE — Old Grimes.
Old Abram Brown is dead and gone,- You'll never see him more; He used to wear a long brown coat That buttoned down before.— HALLIWELL — Nursery Rhymes of
England. Tales. A sweet disorder in the dresse Kindles in cloathes a wantonnesse.— HERRICK — Delight in Disorder.
A winning wave, (deserving note,) In the tempestuous petticote A carelesse shoe-string, in whose tye I see a wilde civility, - Doe more bewitch me then when art Is too precise in every part.— HERRICK — Delight in Disorder.
It is not linen you're wearing out, But human creatures' lives.— HOOD — Song of the Shirt.
After all there is something about a weddinggown prettier than in any other gown in the world.— DOUGLAS JERROLD — A Wedding-Gown.
Jerrold's Wit. Still to be neat, still to be drest, As you were going to a feast, Still to be powder'd, still perfum'd.— BEN JONSON — Epicoene; or, The Silent Woman. Act 1. Sc. 1 (Song).
Each Bond-street buck conceits, unhappy elf; He shows his clothes! alas! he shows himself. O that they knew, these overdrest self-lovers, What hides the body oft the mind discovers.— KEATS — Epigrams. Clothes.
John Lee is dead, that good old man,- We ne'er shall see him more: He used to wear an old drab coat All buttoned down before. 0. To the memory of John Lee, who died May 21, 1823. An inscription in Matherne Church-yard. Dwellers in huts and in marble halls- From Shepherdess up to Queen- Cared little for bonnets, and less for shawls, And nothing for crinoline. But now simplicity's not the rage, And it's funny to think how cold The dress they wore in the Golden Age Would seem in the Age of Gold.— HENRY S. LEIGH — The Two Ages. St. 4.
Let thy attyre bee comely, but not costly.— LYLY — Euphues. 1579. P. 39.
Be plain in dress, and sober in your diet; In short, my deary, kiss me! and be quiet.— LADY M. W. MONTAGUE — Summary of
Lord Littelton's Advice. He was a wight of high renowne, And thosne but of a low degree: Itt's pride that putts the countrye downe, Man, take thine old cloake about thee. S.— THOMAS PERCY — Take thy Old Cloake
about Thee. My galligaskins, that have long withstood The winter's fury, and encroaching frosts, By time subdued (what will not time subdue!) An horrid chasm disclosed.— JOHN PHILIPS — The Splendid Shilling. L. 121.
A vest as admired Voltiger had on, Which from this Island's foes his grandsire won, Whose artful colour pass'd the Tyrian dye, Obliged to triumph in this legacy. The British Princes. 1669. P. 96. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act I. Sc. 3. Line 70.
Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake.— Shakespeare — Merchant of Venice. Act IV. Sc. 1. L. 426.
He will come to her in yellow stockings, and 'tis a color she abhors; and cross-gartered, a fashion she detests.— Shakespeare — Twelfth Night. Act II. Sc. 5. L. 216.
So tedious is this day, As is the night before some festival To an impatient child, that hath new robes, And may not wear them.— Shakespeare — Romeo and Juliet. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 28.
The soul of this man is his clothes.— Shakespeare — All's Well That Ends Well. Act II. Sc. 5. L. 45.
Thou villain base, Know'st me not by my clothes?— Shakespeare — Cymbeline. Act IV. Sc. 2. L. 80.
With silken coats, and caps, and golden rings, With ruffs, and cuffs, and farthingales, and things; With scarfs, and fans, and double change of bravery, With amber bracelets, beads, and all this knavery.— Shakespeare — Taming of the Shrew. Act IV. Sc. 3. L. 55.
Her cap, far whiter than the driven snow, Emblem right meet of decency does yield.— SHENSTONE — The Schoolmistress. St. 6.
She wears her clothes as if they were thrown on her with a pitchfork.— SWIFT — Polite Conversation. Dialogue I.