Dressed up to the nines

Posted by Stan on November 08, 2004

This site suggests that the derivation of this phrase concerns tailors and their work.

Over twenty years ago I was taught that this phrase derived from a Middle English throwback to Anglo-Saxon, and that the phrase was a corruption of 'Dressed up to then eyenes' (sp?)which meant: 'Dressed up to the eyes' or fully kitted out in good clothing.

Which is right?