The term “impeccably dressed” may have originated from the spiritual or cultural significance of the number nine, or from medieval women’s gloves with nine buttons. It could also be related to the expression “the whole nine meters” or “dressed for the eyes.” The exact origin is unknown.
Describing someone as “impeccably dressed” involves wearing expensive clothes, jewelry, and other fashionable accessories, most likely to a formal dance or stage performance. The origins of the term are unclear, but there are a number of theories related specifically to the number nine.
A prevailing theory of the origin of the term surrounds the meaning of the number nine. Some sources believe that the number nine possessed a spiritual or cultural force, just like the numbers three, seven or 13 today. For example, nine Muses were said to inspire mankind’s pursuit of the arts. Had someone been described as “impeccably dressed,” he might have been an outfit capable of impressing the nine Muses. The expression “up to nine” was actually in popular usage before this specific term became fashionable. It is entirely possible that the reference was intended as a tribute to the Muses or other significant figures.
Another theory states that medieval women often wore fashionable gloves as part of their formal attire. These gloves were said to contain nine buttons from wrist to elbow, so if a woman was said to be “impeccably dressed,” she would wear her more formal evening attire. Similarly, the price for admission to plays often ranged from one shilling for a ringside seat to nine shillings for the preferred balcony or box. Anyone who can afford the higher ticket prices might be considered for the more expensive seats as opposed to the filthy grounded ones sitting on the grass in front of the stage.
Some sources believe that the expression is somehow related to the expression “the whole nine meters”. Each was once thought to have its origins in the tailoring profession, where a quality suit or suit was believed to require 9 yards (8.2 metres) of material. In reality, most tailors and dressmakers could create very elegant dresses with much less material. The “full nine yards” may have been inspired by the 27 feet (or 9 yards) of cloth used in a military belt, but no one has been able to connect “best dressed” with the expression “full nine yards”. ”
There’s even a theory suggesting that “dressed to your best” may have been corrupted from “dressed for the eyes,” an expression that also means wearing elegant formal wear. It is possible that the original expression transformed from the eyes into the nine in the same way that a narancia, the original name of the citrus fruit, became confused as an orange. Now we say “an orange” even though the original word started with an “n”, so it’s possible we say “nine” instead of the original “eyes”. Anything is possible whenever dictionaries throw down the etymological gauntlet known as “unknown origin”.
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