You're correct, a proper starched collar is an essential. My father wore stiff collars and a tie when working in the city. I remember him leaving the box of 'dirties' out, to be collected and exchanged for clean ones by 'Collars Ltd'. Bowler hat and rolled umbrella also order of the day. A trio of starched white shirt collars by Collars Ltd with leather box - Belle and Beast Emporium Search | V&A Explore the Collections (vam.ac.uk)
Are you playing uncharacteristically dumb for some reason, Très Difficile ? Here's a clue, if needed, plus 2 borrowed ideas for Clove's next avatar (sources 1 & 2) ; And I vote Gianni Agnelli 'most likely agent provocateur' - e.g.. The tie askew, the collar on his OCBD shirt unbuttoned, and the watch on top of his cuff — all that would have been impossible to pull of for most men, but not so for Agnelli. He knew all the rules, and he broke them deliberately. He never looked too neat, always with some sprezzatura, like a young rake.Monkeys or lambs - both sufficiently impressionable in my book.
I used to read it a lot: I didn’t subscribe but would buy each issue in Waterstone’s Gower Street when I worked in that part of London. I haven’t seen it for a while. I’m a bit of a Tweed and Corduroy chap myself.
Not worn a tie since school. Never worn a suit. Not going to. Those men illustrated earlier haven't 'dressed up' for manual work. Those were the comfortable, hard-wearing, long-lasting clothes available at the time. (Saving ties as a strange male affectation since the late C17th. And something you might have put on for a photograph.) Offer 'em a nice pair of De Walt trousers & kneepads & I imagine they'd have bitten your arm off (While possibly wincing at the price as much as I do.) WW2 must have pushed 'workwear' forward. Lots more useful, rather than decorative/old/cack, items of clothing on the surplus market. Old enough to remember the Leather artillery Jerkin being a pretty common sight. I bet this coat is brown. Proper. The Fishwife's old man wore a brown coat for c.50 years. I respect that. (making patterns? )
Well that's what happens if you play ping-pong during fag break. Never would have happened if he'd been wearing a tie. Kind regards, always, Jim. P.S. New balls please!
When I first entered the building trade in the fifties some of the Old School (Pre War ) Bricklayers still wore jackets and tie. They also had a tin on boot polish and a brush in their tool kit. But as trades men would only lay bricks thus keeping clean ,everything else to be carried out by labourers.
My Dad used his old suits for gardening with or without waistcoat or jacket depending on the climate. Trousers held up with an old tie in lieu of his usual braces and shirt with no collar. If wet he would add a filthy wax jacket issued to him during WW2. A complete transformation from his immaculate attire during the week. Tim
Peaky bleedin' Blinders my arse! The real thing. Irish (maternal side), Coldstreams, The Great War (wounded, survived), my granddad, he knew how to wear a tie. Led me at an early age to a lifetime of jumping off things, out of things, and into things. Daughter No.1 says that I'm his spit (I should be so lucky!) Kind regards, always, Jim.
I had always thought that the work attire was simply the cycling of Sunday best then becoming either re-tailored for younger family members or then designated to workwear. They all wore so many layers they must have been roasting. I have seen very few photographs of older members of my family but am always amazed that they are dressed up to the nines despite not having two halfpennies to rub together. I presume photographers had clothes that people could wear whilst they were being taken.
Yes, actually! Though some corrugated roof work for a stage on the cards... so... maybe not completely.
I'm confused. Does Sir dress to the right or to the left ? Best wishes for the forthcoming pocket billiards championship.