Today at the LJ group “La Mode Illustree”: Bustles!
OK, to be quite honest it’s pretty much bustles all day every day at La Mode Illustree. But the bustle shown in the picture here got me to thinking that I really need to write a story with a Victorian centaur-ess in it. Because really, can’t one imagine the development of the bustle—and its later extravagances of length and breadth—as a stylistic response to the unique fashion need of the well-dressed half-human/half horse socialite?
And I can just imagine our equine miss delicately munching on leaves from that delicious-looking bouquet she’s holding while talking to some ravishing gentleman centaur. Though I can’t quite stretch my brain around the proper attire for a Victorian male centaur. For the sake of common decency, not to mention politesse, there would simply have to be some discreet disguising around the rear end, and I would imagine it would be rather hard to get trousers to fall right around a tail. Perhaps a kilt? But no, you try to get a patriotic American robber-baron centaur into a kilt. I defy you. Hm.
I guess male Victorian centaurs just wouldn’t have gotten out much.
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It could bring a whole new meaning to the concept of the tail-coat ….
You, my friend, are on to something there. Like big swoopy tails edged in satin. They just have to hang down far enough to conceal the (ahem) stallion bits.
Satyrs are easier to trouser. I did some fashion sketches for someone’s roleplaying game once, putting high fashion Victorian clothing on aristocratic satyrs, and it worked all too well.
Even with the big fat goaty legs? I thought the trousers of the day were rather slim.
I think anything with hooves peeking out the bottom would be hella cool.
Well actually, we were mixing costuming elements from a few eras. Basically, knee breeches work nicely with a digitigrade leg. Of course, these satyrs weren’t trying to hide anything.
It’s a little known fact that Victorian centaurs were all hermaphrodites. That is why the male equivalent of the bustle did not catch on despite many of the centaur race being engaged in “passing” for humans during that era. The need for exclusively effeminate drag was hard on the more “butch” of the centaurs though. They made up for this by hosting exceedingly lavish Wild Stallion parties where the bustles were discarded at the door.
Oh my dear! I’d *pay* to read a story about the butch centaurs of the Wild West!
Victorians were perverse and inconsistent enough about their purities and sexual politics that I wouldn’t be surprised if centaur gents just let it all hang out. But of course they’d be very frilly above the waist.
Historically accurate or not, it sure would make the story more interesting!
James White wrote a whole novelette about an Earth tailor creating a tuxedo for a centaur-like alien ambassador, titled “Custom Fitting.” Not surprisingly, it was the cover image for the anthology in which it first appeared: Stellar #2, ed. Judy-Lynn del Rey (1976). The story was a Hugo nominee and has been reprinted several times.
I’ll have to look for it! I am just flabbergasted by how well read you are, Mr. Levine.
I remembered it because of that cover, and all the other details came via Google. I do have a copy on my shelf, in The White Papers, if you’d like to read it.
Well, consider that stallions have a sheath, so it’s not always ALL hanging out. Testicles are between hind legs, so a bit shielded…
If humans are copying centaurs, perhaps in that case the human men return to the codpiece as apparel?
“Oh no, Miss Braithwaite,” said the elder Mrs. VanDamme, who was considered an expert in all things both centaurial and sartorial. “There is nothing at *all* improper about Mr. Foghorn’s appearance. If you but glance in that direction, you will note that he is completely sheathed.”
Woo hoo!
Okay, this is the second idea lately a writer friend has had where I went, “Crap, crap, crap, why didn’t I think of that first.”
Only the second idea lately? Psh. Call me when you feel completely outclassed by all your writer friends and we’ll talk.
What would be the best way for a male centaur to go relatively unnoticed around Victorian England? Why, cross-dressing, of course!
*bows to Serge’s wisdom*
Serge is one of our brightest bulbs. We’re very proud to have him here.
“…one of our brightest bulbs…”
Aw shucks.