Automobiles helped introduced a stylish fashion to the American culture.
Photo Attribution: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images
Whether stepping into a Lyft or the driver’s seat of our own ride, most of us don’t give a second thought to the convenience that is a car.
But when the automobile first rolled out, it changed life as Americans knew it,
opening up a new range of possibilities while at the same time making the world seem a bit smaller. And that tectonic shift rocked not only the transportation industry but, perhaps unexpectedly, the world of fashion, too.
Keep in mind that the car’s predecessor was the horse and buggy. (Yawn.)
So this monumental leap in technology warranted a sartorial change just as major, in terms of both form and function. Thus, motoring style — from driving gloves to car coats to goggles — soon emerged as one of the hottest fashion trends of the early 20th century. Full Article
By Chelsea Greenwood:
When Cars Required a Special Wardrobe
via Racked:
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| Photo Attributions: Jimmy Sime/Central Press/Getty Images |
Pat O'Reilly models a Burberry car coat.
Whether you were in the passenger seat or the driver’s, a car coat was crucial during the early years of automobiles, a comfortable, warm coat not prone to wrinkles was essential for men and women alike.
Car coats were often loose and oversized to allow maximum mobility and were made of heavyweight cloth, leather, or fur to keep the wearer cozy and warm. In summer months, lightweight coats of linen or alpaca wool — also known as “dusters” — were worn to shield one’s outfit from dust and dirt.
Not surprisingly, female motorists found a fashion opportunity in the car coat.
Attribution: Fashion Articles via Chelsea Greenwood
