I enjoy how Jeeves always describes Bertie’s clothes with a plural possessive pronoun, “our”. I have no idea if this is standard etiquette for the situation, I assume it is, but it seems like it would accurately define Jeeves’ perspective on Bertie’s wardrobe even if it wasn’t.
I like to think it’s ‘our’ for the clothes he approves of and ‘your’ for the items he doesn’t. The Al Capone hat, the monogrammed handkerchiefs, the white mess jacket from Cannes… all of those were Bertie’s alone.
In fact, I’m pretty sure I remember him, in the last TV episode I watched, icily asking ‘Shall I lay out one of YOUR novelty handkerchiefs today?’
Or even just “the”, as if the article in question had wandered in off the street uninvited and actually belonged to no one at all.
Ha, I remember that. I admit I wondered what exactly was offensive about monogrammed handkerchiefs… but then I thought about how many ways Bertie could be incriminated or affianced if one ended up in the wrong hands.
I have tried to post this twice now, so let’s try my phone! Anyway, what I discovered from my ds1920s fashion research was that all the items Jeeves disapproves of are super trendy and fashionable items for young college and university age men in the 20s. Bertie is clinging to his school days and Jeeves, with his older and more traditional mindset, is trying to get Bertie to ‘dress his age’.