Regency Fashion: The Vis-A-Vis

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THE VIS A VIS A remarkably STYLISH HAT possessing great and peculiar advantages over most others on which account its claims to patronage are of the highest order The brim before as well as behind being brought down quite square and almost in a perpendicular line with the crown itself gives the wearer an opportunity of observing things en passant by a sort of side glance without being seen so to do thus it is well adapted for gentlemen who would fain indulge in the most exquisite admiration of the beauteous fair but by reason of their extreme mo desty shrink from the trial There is also another and a very important consideration which cannot be allowed to pass unnoticed it is a well known truth that there are certain situations in life where the falling into is not at all times to be avoided the result of which is to create in the imagination a perpetual apprehen sion lest some villainous intruder should in defiance of
eloquence or inclination compel the acceptance of his official or rather officious attendance to counteract so dirty a custom as well as to nip the system in the very bud this Hat is most admirably contrived for by a simple elevation of the hinder part the front may be brought so far over the face as to form a complete shade for the countenance Here then is the attainment of two great ends modesty encouraged and impertinence re strained Lastly and not the least of its useful purposes is that should the introduction of the Vis a Vis become general those novel and graceful evolutions of the body denominated the bend the flutter and the poke may be performed in a much smaller space than usual and without the least danger to the eyes which is greatly to be feared when the distinguished votaries in the eager performance of these newly imported civilities are brought too abruptly face to face Although there is much of the dash in this Hat it has notwithstanding a sort of sombre appearance which calls on the wearer for a figure and countenance to corre spond it is therefore if ornamentally considered re commended to such only whose complexion is of a darkish hue visage long not over bulky in person and above the middle size but if usefully considered all the nicer distinctions must yield to imperious necessity

 

 

 

Lloyd’s Treatise on hats (1819)

This is part of a series on Gentleman’s Hats:

Regency Fashion: Gentlemen’s Hats

Regency Fashion: The John Bull Top Hat 

Regency Fashion: The Wellington Top Hat 

Regency Fashion: The Tandem Hat 

Regency Fashion: The Tally-Ho Hat 

Regency Fashion: The Shallow

Regency Fashion: The Coburg 

Regency Fashion: The Marquis 

Regency Fashion: The Eccentric

Regency Fashion: The Regency 

Regency Fashion: The Kent

Regency Fashion: The Cumberland

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