What does 'Stitched up like a kipper' come from?

[PITJones]

stitched up like a kipper?

[Quizmonster]

Click http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/F19585?thread=100569
&skip=158 for a relevant website that offers several possible answers...none of them wildly convincing, it has to be said. I myself quite like the idea of the 'kipper tie' which - being so large - has lots more stitching than most ties! It certainly doesn't appear to have anything to do with actual fishy-type kippers, unless one were to stuff them with another delicacy and re-close them before serving them at table.

[Quizmonster]

Oh dear...that link doesn't seem to work any more. Try clicking http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A775929 and then scrolling down to 'kipper 159-164'. Click on the numbers and you should end up where I was trying to send you earlier! If not, my apologies.

[melandraf]

Del Trotter has said, i do believe, "done up like a kipper"......