H G Wells "the Invisible Man"

[Bert45]

I've just read "The Invisible Man" by H G Wells. My book was printed in 1940 by Collins. A few words puzzled me. Since it was written in or about 1897 this is no surprise. In chapter 7 Wells writes: " ... some gay young fellows resplendent in black ready-made jackets and pique paper ties, for it was Whit-Monday, joined the group with confused interrogations."
Can anybody explain what a pique paper tie is or was, and what would be the connection with Whit Monday? Would a ready-made jacket be worthy of comment at the time? Thanks

[Mamyalynne]

Pique

tightly woven fabric with raised cords.

Which would likely have been starched, so could have looked like paper - unless of course it actually was paper.

Whit was quite commonly associated with wearing one's best and often there were 'walks'.

[shoota]

I doubt a chap of any substance would wear a ready made jacket in 1897.
Wells is probably suggesting they were hoi poloi.

[tonyav]

Would a ready-made jacket be worthy of comment at the time? Thanks

Probably, because I should imagine that in the day's of when the book was written I should imagine that most clothes were made to measure.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes, sorry I totally missed the relevance of ready-made - they obviously weren't wealthy young coves.

[Buenchico]

The Literary Touchstone edition of the book, published in 2006 by Prestwick Hose, includes a useful glossary:
https://tinyurl.com/ych6m82o

[Bert45]

Buenchico's link is very useful. There is at least one misprint -- chapter X "an inclined strong", which is "an inclined string" in my edition. Maybe string was stronger in those days☺. The explanation of Röntgen vibrations is wrong -- the writer evidently found that a 'Röntgen' is an old unit of radiation, not realising that Wells was referring to X-rays.