Fashion ismoretyrannical at Paristhaninanyother place in the world; it governs even more absolutely than their king, which issaying a great deal. The least revolt against it is punished by proscription.You must observe and conform to all the minutiae of it, if you will be in fashion there yourself; and if you are not in fashion, you are nobody.

-Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of
  Letter to his son, 30  Apr.