POINTERS TO DRESS REFORM FOR MEN

Chronicle (Levin), 9 January 1948, Page 7

POINTERS TO DRESS REFORM FOR MEN

^ « . In London's famous Victoria and ' Albert Mnseum an exhibition of male costumes during the past 600 years is being shown. This gay and colourful display brings sighs of relief -or groans of envy from the men who see what their ancestors ■ wore, though perhaps the relief butweighs the envy, for what modern man would be happy wearing a wide-brimmed, plumed hat or broad starched ruff as he battle'd with conditions of modern trans-r port? . • • Robert Baker spoke about tiie exhibition in his "Letter from Londpn" broadcast in the B.B.C.'s general overseas service and said : "I gathered . one rather interesting ppiht from the .-combined illustratigns and actual clothes which iitake up the exhibition, and that t&.that in each. period dress becotnes standardised until the younger, mqre dashing male thi-nks put st sports dress. In its turn, the sports, dress becomes the formal attire, and so on down* to the preient day when you see many men LiV'London wearing light country suits. Perhaps grey flannel bags aird sports coats are not yet worn geherally in city offices or by shop issistants, or by doctors, lawyers and professional men, but on the ^vidence of this exhibition, it won': be. Iong before grey flannels anc jports coats, and perhaps even "horts, are the formal attire of the day." . , i .