Page:A short history of social life in England.djvu/360

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340
MEN'S DRESS

had vanished. The new dances were the waltz and quadrille, introduced in 1813, and the galop, or the "sprightly galopade" as it was called, while the modern lancers developed from the quadrille. Fashion dominated this exclusive club of Almack's. Trousers for men were making their way in, but as yet they were looked on as not quite correct for evening dress, and one evening, when the Duke of Wellington presented himself thus attired, his entrance was barred by an official, who explained politely, "Your Grace cannot be admitted in trousers." The Duke bowed to the supreme decree and quietly walked away. By 1830, however, trousers had become universal. A few years before this, the frock coat appeared, brass buttons went out, and black cravats came in. Indeed, dark colours for men's dress were introduced by George IV. himself, who wore a dark blue frock coat. A great deal of attention was still bestowed on waistcoats, and we recall the account of Joseph Sedley in "Vanity Fair," going to London in a waistcoat of "crimson satin embroidered with gold butterflies." Pumps, or shoes, were worn by this exclusive society, and a book of etiquette about this time quaintly