Here we see the transition stage, the modification of the old courtly wig, with its accompanying powder, and black silk bag for the queue, now only to be seen pinned on to the coat collars of court officials, and extremely magnificent major domos, &c., and, also, we see the old court dress coat has now taken unto itself a collar, of that exaggerated description which was so much in vogue during the next twenty years. Frilled shirts, and ruffles, still existed, and the curious custom of wearing two watches was the fashion. Here, again, history has somewhat repeated itself in our modern double watch-chain, except that now only one watch is worn, the other side guarding a sovereign purse.
Brighthelmstone or Brighton—beloved of George the Magnificent, whether as Prince, Regent, or King—was the place where the fashionable youth congregated, and therefore we may take the following extract from the Morning Post (the doyen of the Daily Press) of 18th September, 1788:—
"Brighton Dress.
"The fashionable bathing dress, at Brighton, is chiefly a pair of buff trousers, with a slight jacket.
"This is adopted by all the young men of the place, and a number of idle, sauntering land lubbers meet the eye every morning on the Steyne, that one cannot help wishing for a sturdy pressgang to give them useful employment, or at least keep them out of mischief.
"After breakfast they are accoutred for the sports of the field.
"The sporting dress is a brown jacket, with a multiplicity of pockets, on each side, that reaches from the bottom to the top, so that, from this appearance, it is somewhat difficult to determine which the fashionable tribe most resemble—a set of grooms, or a company of smugglers.
"When the dinner hour arrives, after these sprightly and heroic gentlemen have 'slain their thousands, and ten thousands,' according to their own account, in the field, with as little winking and blinking as Major Sturgeon himself, they then attire themselves in order to enjoy the pleasures of the table, and, however deranged they may afterwards be by convivial excess, they march or stagger away to the Rooms, as circumstances may determine, and entertain the Ladies with elegant and decent gallantry."
The Prince's Bow "Monstrous like the Prince! The very bow, demme!"