We considered Man as belonging to Societies; Societies as form’d of
  different Ranks; and different Ranks distinguished by Habits, that all
  proper Duty or Respect might attend their Appearance.

We took notice of several Advantages which are met with in the Occurrences of Conversation.  How the bashful Man has been sometimes so rais’d, as to express himself with an Air of Freedom, when he imagines that his Habit introduces him to Company with a becoming Manner:  And again, how a Fool in fine Clothes shall be suddenly heard with Attention, till he has betray’d himself; whereas a Man of Sense appearing with a Dress of Negligence, shall be but coldly received, till he be proved by Time, and established in a Character.  Such things as these we cou’d recollect to have happen’d to our knowledge so very often, that we concluded the Author had his Reasons, who advises his Son to go in Dress rather above his Fortune than under it.

At last the Subject seem’d so considerable, that it was proposed to have a Repository built for Fashions, as there are Chambers for Medals and other Rarities.  The Building may be shap’d as that which stands among the Pyramids, in the Form of a Woman’s Head.  This may be rais’d upon Pillars, whose Ornaments shall bear a just relation to the Design.  Thus there may be an Imitation of Fringe carv’d in the Base, a sort of Appearance of Lace in the Frieze, and a Representation of curling Locks, with Bows of Ribband sloping over them, may fill up the Work of the Cornish.  The Inside may be divided into two Apartments appropriated to each Sex.  The Apartments may be fill’d with Shelves, on which Boxes are to stand as regularly as Books in a Library.  These are to have Folding-Doors, which being open’d, you are to behold a Baby dressed out in some Fashion which has flourish’d, and standing upon a Pedestal, where the time of its Reign is mark’d down.  For its further Regulation, let it be order’d, that every one who invents a Fashion shall bring in his Box, whose Front he may at pleasure have either work’d or painted with some amorous or gay Device, that, like Books with gilded Leaves and Covers, it may the sooner draw the Eyes of the Beholders.  And to the end that these may be preserv’d with all due Care, let there be a Keeper appointed, who shall be a Gentleman qualify’d with a competent Knowledge in Clothes; so that by this means the Place, will be a comfortable Support for some Beau who has spent his Estate in dressing.

  The Reasons offer’d by which we expected to gain the Approbation of
  the Publick, were as follows.