The Great Breeches Vs Trousers Debate
Earlier this year, through a process of rigorous investigation and analysis (aka an LJ poll) we successfully defined the quintessential qualities of the perfect naval officer. However! One critical question remains unresolved:
Trousers or breeches? What's it to be?!
At the time, the issue sparked a long debate (illustrated with screencaps), but was never conclusively settled. So as moderator of this comm I feel it is my solemn duty to resolve this issue once and for all. And what better way to do so than with a poll?!
Breeches and stockings. The case for:
1. Perfectly designed to show off a well turned leg.
2. Silk stocking are less likely to cause infection in the case of leg wounds. Melville says so (White-Jacket, ch 16):
The officers generally fight as dandies dance, namely, in silk stockings; inasmuch as, in case of being wounded in the leg, the silk-hose can be more easily drawn off by the Surgeon; cotton sticks, and works into the wound.
And so does Jack, though no one seems to have told Dr Maturin (Master and Commander, p 326):
Jack said "I suppose you would like us to put on silk stockings doctor?"
"Why silk stockings, for all the love?"
"Oh, everyone says it's easier for the surgeon, if he has to cut one up."
"Yes. Yes certainly. Pray by all means do put on silk stockings."
3. Sir Edward Pellew (a man who knew a thing or two about filling a pair of breeches) refused to adopt the fashion for trousers and wore breeches all his life.
4. Damn they're pretty!
Breeches and stockings. The case against:
1. Who in their right mind decided that white breeches and silk stockings where suitable attire for naval warfare??!
2. Tight breeches were prone to splitting and were hardly suitable for climbing the rigging. Sir Thomas Byam Martin, complained that as midshipman he:
“…was rigged out as a man, and so squeezed into tight dress as to leave no chance of growing…” and that being sent aloft resulted in “…rents in the lower garment (that) admitted more of the sharp north-west wind than was agreeable.” (Dressed to Kill, p43).
ETA lady_branwyn has, quite rightly, pointed out that this may equally be regarded as a "pro" ;)
3. To quote donnaimmaculata
"Men should not be wearing knee socks. Especially not white ones."
4. ...especially if they are wrinkly. As modelled by Mr Hornblower...
Horatio Hornblower - the Nora Batty of the fleet
Trousers. The case for:
1. Much more practical for naval warfare!
2. Can be worn to equally good effect as breeches...
Trousers. The case against:
1. Baggy arse syndrome. To quote Mr Gruffudd himself, describing his very fine naval yooneeform:
"The arses on the trousers aren't very tight. They're very loose and baggy and I like tight trousers."
Yes Ioan dear, so do we....
2. Commodore Hornblower was not a fan of trousers (The Commodore, p 1)
...then with infinite trouble dragged the tight buff trousers up over his legs. They fitted him like a skin, and it was only when they were fully on, and Brown had slipped behind him and hauled the waistband taut, that he realised that he had not yet put on his stockings. To take the trousers off again would be to admit a mistake, and he refused to do so, ripping out another oath at Brown's suggestion. Philosophically Brown knelt and rolled up the tight trouser legs, but they would not roll even as far as the knee, making it hopeless to try to put on the long stockings.
"Cut the tops off the damned things!" spluttered Hornblower.
3. Trousers, as every good fangirl knows, are liable to malfunction in the heat of battle.
So there we have the evidence...
Trousers or breeches? You decide!
Poll
Feel free to argue your case below. And if feel you must support your argument with screencaps, so much the better ;)
Trousers or breeches? What's it to be?!
At the time, the issue sparked a long debate (illustrated with screencaps), but was never conclusively settled. So as moderator of this comm I feel it is my solemn duty to resolve this issue once and for all. And what better way to do so than with a poll?!
Breeches and stockings. The case for:
1. Perfectly designed to show off a well turned leg.
2. Silk stocking are less likely to cause infection in the case of leg wounds. Melville says so (White-Jacket, ch 16):
The officers generally fight as dandies dance, namely, in silk stockings; inasmuch as, in case of being wounded in the leg, the silk-hose can be more easily drawn off by the Surgeon; cotton sticks, and works into the wound.
And so does Jack, though no one seems to have told Dr Maturin (Master and Commander, p 326):
Jack said "I suppose you would like us to put on silk stockings doctor?"
"Why silk stockings, for all the love?"
"Oh, everyone says it's easier for the surgeon, if he has to cut one up."
"Yes. Yes certainly. Pray by all means do put on silk stockings."
3. Sir Edward Pellew (a man who knew a thing or two about filling a pair of breeches) refused to adopt the fashion for trousers and wore breeches all his life.
4. Damn they're pretty!
Breeches and stockings. The case against:
1. Who in their right mind decided that white breeches and silk stockings where suitable attire for naval warfare??!
2. Tight breeches were prone to splitting and were hardly suitable for climbing the rigging. Sir Thomas Byam Martin, complained that as midshipman he:
“…was rigged out as a man, and so squeezed into tight dress as to leave no chance of growing…” and that being sent aloft resulted in “…rents in the lower garment (that) admitted more of the sharp north-west wind than was agreeable.” (Dressed to Kill, p43).
ETA lady_branwyn has, quite rightly, pointed out that this may equally be regarded as a "pro" ;)
3. To quote donnaimmaculata
"Men should not be wearing knee socks. Especially not white ones."
4. ...especially if they are wrinkly. As modelled by Mr Hornblower...
Horatio Hornblower - the Nora Batty of the fleet
Trousers. The case for:
1. Much more practical for naval warfare!
2. Can be worn to equally good effect as breeches...
Trousers. The case against:
1. Baggy arse syndrome. To quote Mr Gruffudd himself, describing his very fine naval yooneeform:
"The arses on the trousers aren't very tight. They're very loose and baggy and I like tight trousers."
Yes Ioan dear, so do we....
2. Commodore Hornblower was not a fan of trousers (The Commodore, p 1)
...then with infinite trouble dragged the tight buff trousers up over his legs. They fitted him like a skin, and it was only when they were fully on, and Brown had slipped behind him and hauled the waistband taut, that he realised that he had not yet put on his stockings. To take the trousers off again would be to admit a mistake, and he refused to do so, ripping out another oath at Brown's suggestion. Philosophically Brown knelt and rolled up the tight trouser legs, but they would not roll even as far as the knee, making it hopeless to try to put on the long stockings.
"Cut the tops off the damned things!" spluttered Hornblower.
3. Trousers, as every good fangirl knows, are liable to malfunction in the heat of battle.
So there we have the evidence...
Trousers or breeches? You decide!
Poll
Feel free to argue your case below. And if feel you must support your argument with screencaps, so much the better ;)