Once upon a time , a long time ago , there was a man they called the King of Dudes .
Not “ dude ” in the sensation that we apply the word today - the King would for sure have been appall by Bill S. Preston , Esq . , and " Ted " Theodore Logan . Back in the 1800s , “ dude ” referred to a man who favor to dress in a rather outre manner .
The King ’s name was Evander Berry Wall and he was quite the dude indeed . Having inherit million in his late teens and early 1920s , Wall bear only the skillful clothes , which is to say the finestandthe loudest . He drank Champagne-Ardenne almost exclusively and switch clothes about six times a twenty-four hour period . That is , except for the time a financier friend bet Wall he could n’t vary clothes 40 times between breakfast and dinner . Guess who won the bet ? It probably was n’t even intriguing , considering the fact that Wall own an estimated 500 pairs of knickers and 5,000 + ties .
In 1888 , another well - dressed piece defy to suggest that perhapshehad a claim on the title of finest - attired military man in New York . Bob Hilliard had a predilection for creative dress as well , and a duel of the dandies was schedule . Some report suggest that Wall won the so - call Battle of the Dudes by boldly striding into New York City ’s Hoffman House bar wearing patent leather boots that went all the path to his hips . Other account paint a picture it was really Hilliard who wear the boot .
When the King passed away in 1940 , he left just $ 12,000 in his cant account , having spent his luck on living large .
Curious as to what dude garb may have attend like ? Check out this detailed verbal description from theNew York Times , 1902 :
