Dressing up

Alaw in the reign of Elizabeth I declared that: “None shall wear in his apparel satin, damask, silk, camlet or taffeta in gown, coat, hose or uppermost garments, except men that may dispend £100 by the year.” It was important that the lower orders should not pass themselves off as those of high degree by assuming luxurious dress. Today the trouble is the opposite. Self-employed people on a respectable income slop about as though they were one of those rather threatening figures you might come across at a bus station after the last service of the night had gone. So Plymouth city council has put its foot down. No hackney carriage licensees (taxi drivers) may wear jeans and T-shirts, or tracksuit bottoms or sandals. Collars are de rigueur, and smart trousers or a knee-length skirt. Damask and camlet are not obligatory.