It must not be inferred, however, that Washington carried his dandyism to weakness.  When fine clothes were not in place, they were promptly discarded.  In his trip to the Ohio in 1753 he states that “I put myself in an Indian walking Dress,” and “tied myself up in a Match Coat,”—­that is, an Indian blanket.  In the campaign of 1758 he wrote to his superior officer “that were I left to pursue my own Inclinations, I would not only order the Men to adopt the Indian dress, but cause the Officers to do it also, and be at the first to set the example myself.  Nothing but the uncertainty of its taking with the General causes me to hesitate a moment at leaving my Regimentals at this place, and proceeding as light as any Indian in the Woods.  ’T is an unbecoming dress, I confess, for an officer; but convenience, rather than shew, I think should be consulted.”  And this was such good sense that the general gave him leave, and it was done.

With increase of years his taste in clothes became softened and more sober.  “On the other side is an invoice of clothes which I beg the favor of you to purchase for me,” he wrote to London.  “As they are designed for wearing apparel for myself, I have committed the choice of them to your fancy, having the best opinion of your taste.  I want neither lace nor embroidery.  Plain clothes, with a gold or silver button (if worn in genteel dress) are all I desire.”  “Do not conceive,” he told his nephew in 1783, “that fine clothes make fine men more than fine feathers make fine Birds.  A plain genteel dress is more admired, and obtains more credit than lace and embroidery, in the Eyes of the judicious and sensible.”  And in connection with the provisional army he decided that “on reconsidering the uniform of the Commander in Chief, it has become a matter of doubt with me, (although, as it respects myself personally, I was against all embroidery,) whether embroidery on the Cape, Cuffs, and Pockets of the Coat, and none on the buff waistcoat would not have a disjointed and awkward appearance.”  Probably nowhere did he show his good taste more than in his treatment of the idea of putting him in classic garments when his bust was made by Houdon.

“In answer to your obliging inquiries respecting the dress, attitude, &c.,” he wrote, “which I would wish to have given to the statue in question, I have only to observe, that, not having sufficient knowledge in the art of sculpture to oppose my judgment to the taste of connoisseurs, I do not desire to dictate in the matter.  On the contrary I shall be perfectly satisfied with whatever may be judged decent and proper.  I should even scarcely have ventured to suggest, that perhaps a servile adherence to the garb of antiquity might not be altogether so expedient, as some little deviation in favor of the modern costume.”