The Edict of the Overcoat was issued by the Hobo King, Unreasonable the Lesser. He commanded henchforth that the stains in an old overcoat he found down by the river should be used to divine the appropriate course of action for the entire Guild of Vagrants.
It's a sumptuary law, but instead of reinforcing social boundaries it's intended to prevent dueling.
Someone looking to pick a fight is said to be "dragging their coat on the ground" - in the hope that somebody else will step on it, creating a grievance. The Doge has responded to the popularity of this saying by issuing a edict stating that no part of an overcoat may be allowed to touch the ground at any time. The edict has since been expanded to cover hat plumes, sleeve cuffs and decorative bells worn on the shoes or knee-stockings.
peacock feathers. the hat is deliberately carried low in one hand to allow them to drag. Or the dried tentacles of giant squid. Brilliantly extravagant but expensive and terribly brittle, taking one out on the street is practically guaranteed to provoke conflict. Bourgeois pretenders to fashion use imitation squid made from calf leather or lacquered bark.
The Edict of the Overcoat was issued by the Hobo King, Unreasonable the Lesser. He commanded henchforth that the stains in an old overcoat he found down by the river should be used to divine the appropriate course of action for the entire Guild of Vagrants.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sumptuary law, but instead of reinforcing social boundaries it's intended to prevent dueling.
ReplyDeleteSomeone looking to pick a fight is said to be "dragging their coat on the ground" - in the hope that somebody else will step on it, creating a grievance. The Doge has responded to the popularity of this saying by issuing a edict stating that no part of an overcoat may be allowed to touch the ground at any time. The edict has since been expanded to cover hat plumes, sleeve cuffs and decorative bells worn on the shoes or knee-stockings.
Hat plumes? What were they made out of, ostriches suffering from growth problems?
ReplyDeletepeacock feathers. the hat is deliberately carried low in one hand to allow them to drag. Or the dried tentacles of giant squid. Brilliantly extravagant but expensive and terribly brittle, taking one out on the street is practically guaranteed to provoke conflict. Bourgeois pretenders to fashion use imitation squid made from calf leather or lacquered bark.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I'd imagine that Roc feathers would also be used?
ReplyDeleteStepping on someone's Roc feather is pretty much bound to cause a diplomatic incident.
ReplyDeleteThe famously choleric Mappila ambassadors are said to consider the edict a personal affront.