If informality was at the core of the late eighteenth century changes in men's wear, it was mostly due to the intended use of what would come to be known as sportswear. Although the garments favored by English country squires were far from the relaxed and comfortable garments of today, they marked the first step toward a more casual approach to life and dress.
One of the key figures who helped create change in the late nineteenth century was Edward Albert, Prince of Wales, who would eventually be crowned Edward VII in 1901. Brought up with the strict regulations of court, he nonetheless favored relaxed garment styles in appropriate surroundings. As new shorter jackets without waist seams were introduced, he took a liking to these "lounge suits" and was photographed wearing them in the country as early as 1857. Although lounge suits were first seen with dark jackets and light trousers for leisure purposes, the dominant version echoed the dark colors of other day and evening suits. Lounge suits were often worn with shirts with turned-down collars, which also enabled new versions of softer and narrower neckties to gain popularity. By 1860, sports jackets also appeared at sport clubs and were essentially based on the relaxed fit of the lounge suit. They were often striped in bright hues and were not permitted outside sporting events. Although Prince Albert did not tolerate liberties in the dress codes of others, he was not against breaking the rules himself. By the 1890s, he ruled over men's wear and whatever he approved of was reported worldwide. His fondness for sportswear such as lounge suits, sport jackets, Norfolk shooting jackets with front and back pleats, and knickerbockers in loud tweeds saw these styles progressively adopted in town during this period. By 1900, sportswear was worn at the Goodwood Races where men had previously been properly dressed only in black formal wear. Although Albert's successor would not demonstrate as great an interest in clothing, his grandson would.
Edward, Prince of Wales, who would eventually be crowned Edward VIII in 1936, before abdicating the throne the same year to marry Mrs. Simpson, would prove extremely charismatic and beneficial to the British clothing trade. An ambassador of style, young Edward's love of informality put him at odds with other royals. Having fought in World War I, he was part of a generation who wanted to celebrate life and do away with the old conventions. A man of leisure, Edward was very found of sports clothes and gave many styles the royal seal of approval. Most were not new, but his fondness for "plus-fours," the calf-length looser version of knickerbockers, and knitted sweaters in bright colors, made them extremely popular both on and off the golf course. An acceptable alternative to his ancestor Charles II's vest, knitted sleeveless vests and sweaters were increasingly worn by the young set in the 1920s. Informality in dress was often condemned or ridiculed as an American innovation but once royals took to them they became acceptable.
Young men in Europe and America were reacting against their elders and differentiating themselves through dress. In addition to sports clothes, lounge suits and, the dressier version, dinner suits, were being worn in town and in newly appropriate settings. Bright colors were very fashionable and styles were created that extolled youth and were made for them. For example, pants were widening at the hem and Oxford bags, the flannel trousers worn by undergraduates at Oxford in the 1920s, pushed the envelope and became a badge of impetuous youth. New trousers styles were creased in front, rather than on the sides, and cuffed. An emphasis on athleticism resulted in suits with broader shoulders and wide pant legs, which strayed from the slim lines established in late nineteenth-century men's wear and in 1920s women's wear. The cult of youth made women bob their hair and men shave all facial hair. Where fashion had once mirrored power, in the twentieth century it reflected youth.
2006-07-17 12:28:22
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answer #1
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answered by Rhaneieve 3
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Yes, Abercrombie & Fitch started out as an sporting and outdoors store geared toward the wealthy adventurer. They also carried unusual novelty items, sort of like Brookstone or Sharper Image do today. When I was a teenager (back in the '80s), Abercrombie & Fitch was a "nice" store - a place you'd go if you wanted well-made, high quality clothing. The style was preppy, but preppy had a different look back then. It was more of a collegiate look - the kind of clothes a Harvard or Yale student might wear to the country club or out on the yacht: polo shirts, button-down collars, argyle sweater vests, pleated slacks and bermuda shorts, dock shoes and penny loafers. No "Abercombie" plastered all over it. People who could afford it shopped there because they had good quality clothing - not because of the name brand. That look has gone out of style now. And like any smart business, A&F has changed with the times. They discovered that the pre-teen market is much more profitable now than the elite country club sect is - so they've geared their products and image in that direction. They figured out what the teeny boppers like to wear, and started selling it. And they've done a great job of marketing! Their advertising and store atmosphere give an image of "coolness" - so kids who want to look cool have flocked there. The image they have today will eventually go out of style. But if they continue to be as smart as they have in the past, they'll change along with the fashions. Who knows what they'll be selling, and what their stores will look like, when our kids and grandkids are shopping there?
2016-03-26 22:03:23
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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I Believe They Wore Clothes...
2006-07-17 12:26:26
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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It would depend on where they lived. If you are going for just some general info I think that you would be safe with wool pants and a cotton button down shirt.
2006-07-17 12:28:31
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answer #4
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answered by fayth_76 2
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They whore Shirts, Pants, and Shoes.
2006-07-17 12:27:04
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answer #5
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answered by Betterwithpie 5
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they covered there whole body the more they covered the more respectable they were.
2006-07-17 12:27:53
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answer #6
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answered by umeshparamanand 2
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clothes!
2006-07-17 23:31:54
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answer #7
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answered by Hannah 2
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wild guess...but perhaps they wore clothing... http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/tasimg/jul1999/tn150/AUTAS001125883223.jpg&imgrefurl=http://images.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/Search/Search.asp%3FLetter%3DM%26Subject%3DMen%2B-%2BClothing%2B-%2BHistory%2B-%2B19th%2Bcentury&h=116&w=150&sz=4&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=w8n5UPl1Bn7GkM:&tbnh=74&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1892%2Bmen%2Bclothing%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26hs%3DiPH%26lr%3D%26rls%3DDELA,DELA:2005-52,DELA:en
2006-07-17 12:29:41
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answer #8
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answered by nDn tigress 4
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just what they killed
2006-07-17 12:26:34
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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