Ton (le bon ton)

"The ton" is a term commonly used to refer to Britain's high society during the late Regency and the reign of George IV, and later. It is a French word meaning (in this sense) "manners" or "style" and is pronounced as in French ([tɔ̃]). The full phrase is le bon ton meaning "good manners" or "good form" – characteristics held as ideal by the British beau monde.

The term le beau monde (pronounced [bo mɔ̃d]), literally meaning "the beautiful world" (but here meaning "fashionable people," or "fashionable society"), was similar to le bon ton during the nineteenth century.

"The ton" has also been used to refer to the Upper Ten Thousand of later 19th-century society, including most of the peerage, aristocracy and wealthy merchants or bankers of the City (of London).

Ton society was intensely class-conscious and the social hierarchy was incredibly rigid. Class standing was determined by birth, wealth, titles, and other factors, such as:

Members of the ton came from the aristocracy, the gentry, and of course, royalty and monarch(s). Though some wealthier members of the middle classes might possibly have married into the lower ranks of the gentry, such unions would not have been completely accepted by the elite ton. Social positions could be altered or determined by income, houses, speech, clothing, or even manners. Climbing the social ladder could take generations, particularly into the aristocracy, who did not readily accept those perceived to be of inferior birth into their ranks.

Fashion, etiquette, manners, social customs, and many other aspects of social life were all dictated by the ton. The ton's generally acknowledged leaders were the Lady Patronesses of Almack's who, during the Regency, included Lady Jersey, Lady Sefton, Lady Cowper, Lady Castlereagh, and Mrs. Drummond Burrell. As London's most exclusive mixed-sex social club, Almack's represented the best and wealthiest among the ton. The conventions of ton life were highly structured and complex, and difficult for anyone born outside of the highest circles to fully understand. Social acceptance was crucial and based primarily, but not exclusively, on birth and family. Acceptable social behaviours were different for men and women; these behaviours were based on an intricate system validated primarily by the patronesses of Almack's, who determined who could be admitted to the club's functions. Some of these behaviours were flexible– they adapted slightly with the fashions of each season– but they always reflected the current modes of manners, fashion, and propriety.

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Wikipedia