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Survival of the Fittest 
Darwin was the first to link
underwear with evolution:
the better-fitting survived,
reproduced, accommodated
the elements. First loincloth,
then short tunic or chiton,
Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, all
wore underwear designed to show
from under a toga. By way of
casual greeting, the Romans
often flashed each other.
Colors
1850. The dashing gentleman
wore colors just as much as clothes:
red flannel Emperor shirt,
heartsease embroidered blue cravat,
brown buff vest like French doors,
cutaway coat of brightest green
with carbuncle studs
for cutaway hands
and rings to fit
at least three fingers,
to shine, reflect, display, distract,
drawing all attention away
from clogged pores and dirty nails.
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William
F. Vanwert is the author of several novels (