Men's Fashion Clothing - How Did We Get to Where We Are Today?

Men's fashion clothing trends really started in thedesigners, responsible for men's designer clothes
seventeen hundreds - in eighteenth-centuryof the day, including John Galliano and Alexander
France, during the reign of Louis XIV, men wereMcQueen, chose to serve an apprenticeship in
referred to as the 'peacocks of fashion'. TheySaville Row, and no matter how outlandish their
wore very decorative Rhinegrave breechesfashion garments appear, they retain respect and
covered in lace and bows made of the finest silksadmiration for their industry through their
and satins; impeccably clean white linen shirts withmasterful tailoring expertise.
lavish cravats; and overcoats called justaucorpsIn 1818, Harry Sands Brooks established Brooks
adorned with lavish buttons and gold braid thatBrothers, one of America's oldest retailers, known
stretched from chin to knee.for its classic and conservative styling. It was the
This form of conspicuous consumption wasfirst company to offer ready-made men's clothing
considered the epitome of good taste. After thesuits to individuals like sailors, who were only on
French Revolution (1789), however, the canons ofshore leave for a short time, and gold miners
tasteful dress changed dramatically. Simplicity,before they headed west.
starkness and refinement became the order ofFor over 100 years, they also supplied uniforms
the day with long trousers, vests, frock coatsto the US military. The innovations of Brooks
and top hats defining the role of the gentleman inBrothers include the first summer seersucker suit
society.(1830), mens clothing suits and beachwear made
Well-tailored suits made from the finest clothfrom madras plaid (1890), the button-down collar
became the requisite of determining your positionshirt worn during polo matches (1896), Shetland
in society, and your delegation to the ranks of thewool sweaters (1904) and the first
upper classes. Tales of the infamous dandy, Beauwash-and-wear Dacron and polyester shirts
Brummel, abound: a man who befriended the(1953).
Prince of Wales in the early nineteenth centuryAlways synonymous with fashionable,
and set the benchmark for cleanliness andwell-constructed garments, they attracted the
restraint in male attire, with understated butbusiness of celebrities such as the Rolling Stones
beautifully fitted and tailored clothing. He is creditedand other pop stars of the 60s.The British
with introducing and establishing the start ofcompany Marks and Spencer bought Brooks
modern men's clothing suits.Brothers in 1988.
English men's fashion clothing, underlined by theAfter the Second World War, the influence of
British landed gentry, established the EuropeanAmerican ready-to-wear clothing had a worldwide
stylistic trends of the nineteenth and earlyimpact on the direction of business suits and
twentieth centuries. It was during this time thatmen's casual clothing. Designers like as Ralph
the tailors of London's Saville Row becameLauren and Calvin Klein offered the ultimate in
famous for exquisitely cut and tailored garmentsmen's casual lifestyle dressing.
for men.Influenced by Italian designer, Giorgio Armani, and
Saville Row was built between 1731 and 1735,his informal, easy-fitting clothing, a new era in
originally as part of the Burlington Estate. Beaumenswear was born. This loose-fitting styling was
Brummel helped to establish its reputation as hereinforced by menswear designed by the
patronized the tailors congregated on theJapanese designers, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei and
Burlington Estate, who then started to occupywas adopted by new age, avant-garde males.
premises on Saville Row. Even contemporary